Question

Both klebsiella pneumoniae and streptococcus pneumoniae avoid phagocytosis by releasing a-b toxins that kill leukocytes.

Answer 1

This is a false statement.

Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae are two bacteria who are encapsulated, that means that they are surrounded by an envelope. This capsule is critical to their pathogenicity since it protects them from the phagocytes of the human immune system. Certain proteins located on the surface of their capsule prevent the phagocytic cell from adhering to the bacteria and engulfing it.