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Question #46514
The Question
Ecologists and immunologists often draw parallels between ecosystem stability and human microbiome homeostasis. If Paul Ehrlich’s 'Rivet Popper Hypothesis' is applied to the Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT), where diverse commensal microbes act as the 'rivets', what immunological consequence best represents the critical 'loss of rivets on the airplane wing'?
Options
- A.
Enhanced proliferation of Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in MALT, leading to overproduction of TGF-beta and systemic immunosuppression.
- B.
Loss of immune tolerance due to decreased Regulatory T-cell activity, resulting in chronic MALT hyper-activation and autoimmune inflammation.
- C.
Structural atrophy of MALT, causing it to lose its status as a secondary lymphoid organ and halting all secretory IgA production.
- D.
Immediate conversion of MALT into a primary lymphoid tissue to rapidly generate naive T-lymphocytes for mucosal defense.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
MALT Structure|Rivet Popper Hypothesis|Gut Microbiota
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students commonly misinterpret the loss of beneficial gut bacteria as leading directly to 'immunosuppression' or 'weakened immunity'.
The critical NCERT-Plus insight is that commensals actively drive immune tolerance (via Tregs).
Therefore, their loss removes the 'brakes' on the immune system, causing pathological hyper-activation and autoimmunity, perfectly mirroring the catastrophic systemic collapse in the Rivet Popper analogy.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Human Health and Disease - Class 12 |
| Concept | MALT Structure |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |