Which of the following statements correctly describes the immune response when the infectious pathogen is a virus?
A) The antigen molecules on the viral DNA allow the immune system to prevent the infection.
B) Lymphocytes are not involved in the immune response.
C) The lack of nucleic acid in a virus complicates the immune response.
D) Lymphocytes initially respond to infected cells rather than to the virus itself.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the infectious pathogen is a virus, lymphocytes initially respond to infected cells rather than to the virus itself. This is because viruses invade host cells and use the host's cellular machinery to replicate, so infected cells present viral antigens on their surfaces. The lymphocytes then recognize and respond to these viral antigens presented by infected cells.

Which of the Following Statements Correctly Describes the Immune Response