Final answer:
ICAM-1 is the adhesion molecule that acts as a receptor for both the major rhinovirus and Plasmodium falciparum-infected red cells.The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecule that was found to act as a major rhinovirus receptor and as a receptor for Plasmodium falciparum-infected red cells is ICAM-1.
Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecules (ICAMs) play a crucial role in leukocyte adhesion, which is pivotal for immune function, including the cytotoxic actions of T cells and NK cells, B lymphocyte immunoglobulin synthesis, and neutrophil phagocytosis and chemotaxis
Viruses and parasites have evolved to exploit these adhesion molecules to enter and infect host cells.
As such, rhinovirus, which is responsible for the common cold, uses ICAM-1 as a cellular receptor to gain entry and initiate infection.The correct option is A.