Q22 - Adipose Tissue as a Host Response to Skin Infection

Theoretical A Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) causes skin infection in humans and is a common cause of death. Immediate protection or intervention by local epithelial cells restrict spread of infection. These cells produce antimicrobial peptides (amp), e.g. cathelicidin (Camp). A newly discovered host response to such infections is changes in subcutaneous adipose (fat) tissue (fig A-B). The antibacterial role of this was studied by using BADGE, an ether that inhibits adipogenesis (fig C-E) A, mouse skin infected with SA and compared to control (ctrl); B, change in number and size of adipocytes 3 days after SA infection. C-D, effects of BADGE on wound size and SA CFU (the ether BADGE inhibits adipogenesis, CFU=Colony-Forming Units); E, effects of + and − Camp.

Figure 1. Figure 1.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. An SA infection induces the average subcutaneous fat cell to increase in size

B. Number of adipocytes is important against spread of infection

C. Badge destroys the effect of Camp

D. Results in Fig. C-D and in Fig. E support each other well

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Question reproduced from IBO 2015, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)