A hypothetical bacterium swims among human intestinal contents until it finds a suitable location on the intestinal lining. It adheres to the intestinal lining using a feature that also protects it from phagocytes, bacteriophages, and dehydration. Faecal matter from a human in whose intestine this bacterium lives can spread the bacterium, even after being mixed with water and boiled. The bacterium is not susceptible to the penicillin family of antibiotics. It contains no plasmids and relatively little peptidoglycan.
-Adherence to the intestinal lining by this bacterium is due to its possession of ________.
A) fimbriae
B) pili
C) a capsule
D) a flagellum

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The feature that allows the bacterium to adhere to the intestinal lining and protect it from phagocytes, etc. is most likely fimbriae (also known as "attachment pili"). Pili are similar structures but are involved in conjugation (the transfer of DNA between bacteria), so B) is not correct. A capsule could protect the bacterium, but it is not typically involved in adherence, so C) is not the best answer. Finally, a flagellum is involved in motility, so D) is not the best answer either.

A Hypothetical Bacterium Swims Among Human Intestinal Contents Until It