What tags pathogens for phagocytosis to facilitate their clearance?

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Multiple Choice

What tags pathogens for phagocytosis to facilitate their clearance?

Opsonization is the process of tagging pathogens for phagocytosis. Antibodies and complement proteins act as opsonins, coating the surface of microbes to enhance recognition by phagocytes. Antibodies, especially IgG, bind to antigens on pathogens and their Fc regions are recognized by Fc receptors on macrophages and neutrophils, promoting engulfment. Complement proteins, notably C3b, bind to microbial surfaces and interact with complement receptors on phagocytes, also boosting uptake and clearance. Other options don’t tag pathogens for phagocytosis: kinins are inflammatory mediators that increase vascular permeability and recruit immune cells; interleukins are cytokines that coordinate immune signaling; toll-like receptors are pattern-recognition receptors on phagocytes that detect microbes and activate responses but do not themselves tag pathogens for phagocytosis.

Opsonization is the process of tagging pathogens for phagocytosis. Antibodies and complement proteins act as opsonins, coating the surface of microbes to enhance recognition by phagocytes. Antibodies, especially IgG, bind to antigens on pathogens and their Fc regions are recognized by Fc receptors on macrophages and neutrophils, promoting engulfment. Complement proteins, notably C3b, bind to microbial surfaces and interact with complement receptors on phagocytes, also boosting uptake and clearance.

Other options don’t tag pathogens for phagocytosis: kinins are inflammatory mediators that increase vascular permeability and recruit immune cells; interleukins are cytokines that coordinate immune signaling; toll-like receptors are pattern-recognition receptors on phagocytes that detect microbes and activate responses but do not themselves tag pathogens for phagocytosis.

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