Question

When the nurse practitioner looked into Nadia's throat, she saw white spots on the tonsils. These were white blood cells attempting to fight off the infection. Which of the following statements explains a key difference between Nadia's white blood cells and the Streptococcus pyogenes infecting her throat?

a) Nadia's cells have a capsule
b) Nadia's cells are eukaryotic
c) Nadia's cells are Gram-positive
d) Nadia's cells lack a cell wall

Answer 1

The key difference between Nadia's white blood cells and the infecting Streptococcus pyogenes is that her cells are eukaryotic, with a nucleus and organelles, while S. pyogenes is a prokaryotic, gram-positive bacterium.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the key differences between Nadia's white blood cells and the Streptococcus pyogenes infecting her throat, the correct answer is: Nadia's cells are eukaryotic. White blood cells, or leukocytes, are part of the human immune system and are eukaryotic cells, which means they contain a nucleus and organelles enclosed within membranes. On the other hand, Streptococcus pyogenes is a type of bacteria, specifically a gram-positive bacterium, which are prokaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, and they have a simpler cell structure compared to eukaryotic cells. Additionally, S. pyogenes has a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan, which is targeted by antibiotics to treat infections like strep throat.