How do fibrinolysins enhance a pathogen's virulence?

• A. They promote the formation of biofilms on host surfaces.
• B. They inhibit the host immune response by destroying white blood cells.
• C. They break down fibrin clots, allowing pathogens to spread more easily through host tissues.
• D. They neutralize stomach acid, enabling survival in the gastrointestinal tract.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of fibrinolysins: These are enzymes produced by some pathogens that target fibrin, a protein involved in blood clotting.
2. Recall the function of fibrin in the host: Fibrin forms clots that can trap pathogens at the site of infection, limiting their spread.
3. Analyze how breaking down fibrin clots affects pathogen spread: By degrading fibrin, fibrinolysins dissolve these clots, removing physical barriers that contain the infection.
4. Connect this action to increased virulence: The ability to break down clots allows pathogens to invade surrounding tissues more easily and disseminate within the host.
5. Differentiate fibrinolysin activity from other options: Unlike promoting biofilms, inhibiting immune cells, or neutralizing stomach acid, fibrinolysins specifically enhance virulence by facilitating tissue invasion through clot breakdown.