Our body recognizes the foreign nature of a parasite or disease agent and we soon build up antibodies.A few parasites can change their identity to evade our immune system.How could cells do this on a regular basis?
A) Replace the cholesterol within the membrane with host cholesterol.
B) Wait for evolution of new protein membrane molecules.
C) Because the membrane is "set," a cell must reproduce and then the cell with the old membrane must die.
D) A whole new phospholipid bilayer is generated to replace the old layer.
E) New glycoproteins are produced in the cell and moved into the plasma membrane.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cell recognition membrane markers are usually proteins, so new proteins, similar enough to the host proteins to not be recognized by antibodies, need to be made and presented on the membrane. This procedure must occur fairly quickly or the immune system will recognize and destroy the invader.

Our Body Recognizes the Foreign Nature of a Parasite or Disease