Which of the Following is Considered a Virulence Factor

Question

Which of the following is considered a virulence factor?
A) TNF-Alpha
B) RNA
C) IFN-gamma
D) Strep. pyogenes
E) capsules

Accepted Answer

Capsules are considered virulence factors because they can prevent phagocytosis by immune cells and protect the bacteria from being eliminated. TNF-Alpha and IFN-gamma are cytokines produced by the immune system in response to infections and are not considered virulence factors. RNA is a genetic material and is not considered a virulence factor. Strep. pyogenes is a bacterial species and is not a specific virulence factor.