You think that Jay may have a Salmonella infection. Although a person's normal gastrointestinal microbiota protects them from pathogenic infections, in this case, Jay has contracted the disease. You explain to Jay the role his normal microbiota plays in excluding pathogens, including
A) covering binding sites that might otherwise be used for attachment by a pathogen
B) consuming available nutrients (thus "starving") the pathogen AND reducing water and oxygen availability in their immediate environment
C) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria AND phagocytizing any incoming pathogenic cells
D) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria, consuming available nutrients (thus "starving" the pathogen) AND covering binding sites that might otherwise be used for attachment by a pathogen.
E) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria, secreting carbohydrate "traps" that catch foreign bacteria AND phagocytizing any incoming pathogenic cells

Question

You think that Jay may have a Salmonella infection. Although a person's normal gastrointestinal microbiota protects them from pathogenic infections, in this case, Jay has contracted the disease. You explain to Jay the role his normal microbiota plays in excluding pathogens, including
A) covering binding sites that might otherwise be used for attachment by a pathogen
B) consuming available nutrients (thus "starving") the pathogen AND reducing water and oxygen availability in their immediate environment
C) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria AND phagocytizing any incoming pathogenic cells
D) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria, consuming available nutrients (thus "starving" the pathogen) AND covering binding sites that might otherwise be used for attachment by a pathogen.
E) producing compounds toxic to other bacteria, secreting carbohydrate "traps" that catch foreign bacteria AND phagocytizing any incoming pathogenic cells

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The normal microbiota plays a crucial role in excluding pathogens by producing compounds toxic to other bacteria, consuming available nutrients (thus "starving" the pathogen), and covering binding sites that might otherwise be used for attachment by a pathogen. Choices A, B, C, and E all describe individual mechanisms by which the microbiota may exclude pathogens but do not encompass all the ways in which this may occur.

You Think That Jay May Have a Salmonella Infection