Problem 10 - Biology: The Dynamic Science

Question

Medicine attempts to enhance the immune response when treating: a. organ transplant recipients. b. anaphylactic shock. c. rheumatoid arthritis. d. HIV infection. e. Type I diabetes.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

HIV infection (d)

Step 1: Understanding the terms

First, let's understand each condition: a. Organ transplant recipients: The body sees the new organ as a foreign object and may attack it, causing graft rejection. b. Anaphylactic shock: It happens due to a severe allergic reaction where the immune response is already overactive.c. Rheumatoid arthritis: It's an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. d. HIV infection: It results in a weakened immune system because the virus infects immune cells (T cells). e. Type I diabetes: It's an autoimmune condition where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells.

Step 2: Fact matching

Now, match each condition to the kind of immune response it demands: a. organ transplant recipients require immune suppression to prevent organ rejection; b. anaphylactic shock requires immune modulation to control the overreactive allergic response; c. rheumatoid arthritis requires immune suppression as it's an autoimmune disease; d. HIV infection requires enhanced immune response to fight and control the virus; e. Type I diabetes requires immune suppression/modulation to prevent the body from attacking its own cells.

Step 3: Finding the answer

From the above understanding, those with conditions that necessitate an enhanced immune response for treatment are:d. HIV infection: Here, enhancing the immune response is beneficial in fighting the disease.