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Multiple Choice

During the respiratory burst of activated neutrophils, which two reactive chemicals are produced?

The key idea is that the neutrophil respiratory burst rapidly generates reactive oxygen species to kill engulfed microbes. The process starts with NADPH oxidase transferring electrons to oxygen, creating superoxide (O2−). Superoxide is then converted by superoxide dismutase into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide is used by myeloperoxidase to form hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent antimicrobial. Nitric oxide, while a reactive molecule produced by some immune cells, is not the primary product of the neutrophil respiratory burst. The main two reactive chemicals produced directly in this burst are superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.

The key idea is that the neutrophil respiratory burst rapidly generates reactive oxygen species to kill engulfed microbes. The process starts with NADPH oxidase transferring electrons to oxygen, creating superoxide (O2−). Superoxide is then converted by superoxide dismutase into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide is used by myeloperoxidase to form hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent antimicrobial. Nitric oxide, while a reactive molecule produced by some immune cells, is not the primary product of the neutrophil respiratory burst. The main two reactive chemicals produced directly in this burst are superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.