Murine Toxin is a ________ That is a Respiratory Inhibitor

Question

Murine toxin is a ________ that is a respiratory inhibitor and lethal to mice.
A) Yersinia pestis endotoxin
B) Rickettsia prowazekii endotoxin
C) Yersinia pestis exotoxin
D) Rickettsia prowazekii exotoxin

Accepted Answer

The descriptor "respiratory inhibitor" suggests that the toxin affects the lungs and/or ability to breathe, while "lethal to mice" indicates its toxicity. Yersinia pestis and Rickettsia prowazekii are both bacterial pathogens, but the question specifies that the toxin is either an endotoxin or exotoxin, which suggests that it is produced by the bacteria rather than a component of their cell walls. Therefore, the toxin is most likely Yersinia pestis exotoxin, which is highly virulent and capable of causing severe respiratory distress and failure in its hosts.