Which of the following is a common strategy used by bacterial pathogens to evade the immune response?

• A. Producing toxins that directly kill immune cells
• B. Altering their surface antigens to avoid detection
• C. Forming symbiotic relationships with immune cells
• D. Increasing their metabolic rate to outpace immune cells

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context: Bacterial pathogens have developed various strategies to evade the host's immune system, allowing them to survive and proliferate within the host.
2. Identify the key strategy: One common method is altering their surface antigens. This means the bacteria change the proteins or molecules on their surface that are recognized by the immune system.
3. Explore the mechanism: By altering surface antigens, bacteria can avoid detection by immune cells such as antibodies and T-cells, which are designed to recognize specific antigens.
4. Consider the implications: This evasion strategy makes it difficult for the immune system to mount an effective response, as it relies on recognizing and targeting specific antigens.
5. Compare with other strategies: While producing toxins or forming symbiotic relationships are strategies used by some pathogens, altering surface antigens is a direct method to avoid immune detection and is commonly observed in various bacterial species.