which of the following types of molecules would you suspect comprises an S. pneumoniae capsule? 1. monosaccharide carbohydrate 2. triglyceride lipid 3. polysaccharide carbohydrate 4. disaccharide carbohydrate 5. adenosine triphosphate

Answer: S. pneumoniae capsule consist of polysaccharide carbohydrate. The correct option is 3.

Explanation: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram positive facultative organism found in the genus Streptococcus. It has the ability to cause infection through a number of virulent factors it has such as

- invasins and

- capsule.

The capsule of S. Pneumoniae is made up of repeated chains of polysaccharide carbohydrate. The capsule protects the bacteria from:

-phagocytosis,

-complement-mediated immunity and

-opsonophagocytic killing,

- reduces capture of pneumococci by neutrophil extracellular traps aNd

- prevents entrapment of S. pneumoniae in airway mucus which in turn limits mucus-mediated clearance.