Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment
Foreign infectious molecules are referred to as:
Antibodies
Antigens
Pathogens
Vectors
The correct answer is: Antigens
Foreign infectious molecules are referred to as antigens because they are substances that provoke an immune response in the body. Antigens can be proteins, polysaccharides, or other types of molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When these foreign substances enter the body, the immune system recognizes them as threats and produces antibodies to target and eliminate them. Antigens play a critical role in the immune response, as they are responsible for signaling to the immune system that a foreign invader is present. This process is fundamental for the body’s defense mechanisms and foundational for vaccine development, where a harmless form of the antigen is introduced to stimulate immunity without causing disease. The other terms are related to the immune and infectious disease fields but do not specifically define foreign infectious molecules. Pathogens refer to the actual disease-causing organisms (like bacteria and viruses), while vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens (like mosquitoes). Antibodies are the proteins produced by B cells to identify and neutralize pathogens, not foreign infectious molecules themselves.