High School

The complement pathway that is activated by the binding of C3b to cell surfaces is the

A. classical pathway.
B. alternate pathway.
C. C3 pathway.
D. mucociliary pathway.

Answer :

Final answer:

The complement pathway that is activated by binding of C3b to cell surfaces is the b.) alternative pathway.

Explanation:

The alternate pathway is initiated by the spontaneous hydrolysis of C3 in the absence of specific antibodies. When C3b binds to cell surfaces, it triggers a cascade of reactions that contribute to the immune response, including opsonization of pathogens and activation of inflammatory processes. This pathway provides a rapid and crucial defense mechanism against microbial invaders, complementing the classical pathway initiated by antigen-antibody complexes.