You have found a mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae that has lost the ability to produce a capsule.If you inject this strain into a population of healthy mice, what prediction can you make about the consequences?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The capsule produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important virulence factor that helps the bacterium evade the host's immune system. It also protects the bacterium from phagocytosis. Without the capsule, the bacterium is more susceptible to phagocytosis and therefore less virulent. Therefore, the mice are likely to remain healthy because the mutant strain is less likely to cause a severe infection.

You Have Found a Mutant of Streptococcus Pneumoniae That Has