Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that causes meningitis - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 5
Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that causes meningitis. This disease causes inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord in humans.
Bacteria en... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that causes meningitis - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Name the process shown in the figure.
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Answer
The process shown in the figure is called endocytosis. This is where the bacterium enters the host cell by engulfing itself within the plasma membrane.
Step 2
Describe how antibodies and macrophages inhibit the spread of N. meningitidis.
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Answer
Antibodies bind to the surface antigens of N. meningitidis, neutralizing the bacterium and preventing it from infecting cells. Macrophages can phagocytize bacteria by engulfing them, thus destroying the pathogens. Together, these immune components help restrict and manage the infection.
Step 3
Why is this enzyme named a protease?
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This enzyme is named a protease because it breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. Proteases are crucial for various physiological processes as they cleave peptide bonds in proteins.
Step 4
Explain why the drug needs to have a shape complementary to the protease enzyme.
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The drug needs to have a shape complementary to the protease enzyme to effectively fit into the active site of the enzyme. This allows it to inhibit the enzyme’s function, preventing it from breaking down crucial proteins involved in the immune response, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.
