Patients deficient in late complement are susceptible to:
a) viruses
b) fungus
c) encapsulated bacteria
d) intracellular bacteria
e) protozoa
f) gonococcus and meningococcus
aanya.bansal Answered question August 24, 2024
The correct answer is (f) gonococcus and meningococcus.
The late complement components (C5-C9) play a crucial role in forming the membrane attack complex (MAC), which creates a pore in the bacterial cell membrane, leading to lysis and death. Patients with deficiencies in late complement components are susceptible to infections with:
– Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus)
– Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
These bacteria are typically killed by the MAC, but in individuals with late complement deficiencies, they can cause recurrent or severe infections, such as:
aanya.bansal Answered question August 24, 2024