Lesson 6.3.2

6.3.2 Non-specific responses: inflammation, lysozyme, interferon and phagocytosis Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield), Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.3.2, Non-specific responses: inflammation, lysozyme, interferon and phagocytosis: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BI0), Unit 6: Immunity, Infection and Forensics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which of these is a feature of inflammation?

    • Cooling and shrinking of the affected area, caused by reduced blood flow to the damaged tissue
    • Hardening of the skin and loss of sensation, caused by the production of keratin in the wound
    • Paralysis of the local muscles, caused by the release of antibodies that block nerve signals
    • Redness, heat, swelling and pain, caused by increased blood flow and leakage of fluid into tissues

  2. Histamine released from mast cells during inflammation causes:

    • Destruction of the bacterial cell wall, which kills the bacteria in the tissue directly
    • Vasoconstriction of the capillaries, which reduces blood flow to the infected site
    • The production of interferon by the infected cells, which blocks viral replication
    • Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability

  3. Lysozyme protects against infection by:

    • Hydrolysing the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell walls, which can cause the bacteria to lyse
    • Hydrolysing the capsid of viruses, which releases the nucleic acid for destruction by the host
    • Dissolving the phospholipid membrane of host cells, which allows phagocytes to enter them
    • Synthesising antibodies that bind to bacterial surface antigens and tag them for destruction

  4. Interferon is released by:

    • Neutrophils that have engulfed bacteria, which release the protein to kill other bacteria
    • Plasma cells that have been activated by antigen, which release it to neutralise the toxins
    • Virus-infected cells, which signal neighbouring cells to resist viral replication
    • Red blood cells infected with malaria parasites, which release it to kill the parasite directly

  5. Interferon protects uninfected cells by:

    • Dissolving the capsid of any virus that comes in contact with the cell surface membrane
    • Binding to the bacterial cell wall and making it more susceptible to attack by lysozyme
    • Triggering the lysis of all white blood cells in the area so that inflammation is reduced
    • Inducing the production of antiviral proteins that inhibit the replication of viruses

  6. Phagocytosis is best described as:

    • The breakdown of the pathogen's capsid by lysozyme, which releases the genetic material
    • The movement of red blood cells through capillary walls to reach the site of an infection
    • The release of antibodies by plasma cells, which then bind to and destroy the pathogen
    • The engulfment of a pathogen by a phagocyte, which then digests it within a phagosome

  7. Which cells carry out phagocytosis as part of the non-specific response?

    • Neutrophils and macrophages, which engulf and digest pathogens
    • Red blood cells, which engulf pathogens and transport them to the lymph nodes
    • Plasma cells, which engulf pathogens and release antibodies that bind to their surface
    • Helper T cells, which engulf pathogens and present their antigens to the B cells

  8. Which phagocytic step involves the fusion of two membrane-bound structures?

    • The fusion of a capsid with the cell membrane, which releases the genome into the cytoplasm
    • The fusion of two ribosomes, which combine to make a larger structure for protein synthesis
    • The fusion of a phagosome with a lysosome
    • The fusion of an antibody with a mast cell, which causes the mast cell to release histamine

  9. Why does inflammation help to fight infection?

    • It stops all blood flow to the site, which prevents the pathogens from reaching the lymph nodes
    • It converts the pathogens into harmless proteins that are removed by the kidneys in urine
    • It destroys the host's antibodies, so that the pathogens cannot be recognised by the immune system
    • It brings phagocytes and plasma proteins to the site, and it can wall off the spread of pathogens

  10. Which non-specific defence is produced by cells in response to infection by a virus rather than a bacterium?

    • Histamine, which is released by neutrophils to increase the permeability of the lung capillaries
    • Lysozyme, which is released by macrophages to hydrolyse the viral capsid of the infected cell
    • Interferon, which is released by infected cells to protect neighbouring cells from infection
    • Phagocytosis by platelets, which engulf and digest viral particles in the bloodstream

  11. A cut on the finger becomes red, hot, swollen and painful within an hour. Which best explains these signs?

    • Histamine and other mediators cause vasodilation and increased permeability
    • Interferon causes the blood to clot in the wound, which makes the skin hot and red as a result
    • Lysozyme dissolves the skin cells at the wound, which causes the area to swell and become painful
    • Antibodies from plasma cells spread through the blood, so the area becomes hot and painful

  12. Which statement about non-specific defences is correct?

    • They respond only to pathogens that have been encountered before, so they improve with each infection
    • They rely on antibody production and therefore require several days of exposure before they act
    • They involve only the lymphocytes of the blood and are specific to individual pathogens
    • They respond in the same way to any pathogen and do not rely on recognition of specific antigens

  13. Why would a virus be less able to spread from a cell whose neighbours are producing interferon?

    • Because interferon increases the size of the virus particles, making them too large to pass through the membranes
    • Because interferon destroys the virus particles directly in the extracellular fluid of the tissue
    • Because neighbouring cells induce antiviral proteins that inhibit replication of the virus within them
    • Because interferon causes the neighbouring cells to lose their membranes, so the virus cannot enter them

  14. A researcher blocks histamine receptors in tissue following a wound. Which effect is most likely?

    • Increased vasodilation, so more phagocytes and plasma reach the wound more quickly than normal
    • Increased destruction of bacteria by lysozyme, since histamine normally blocks this enzyme
    • Reduced vasodilation and permeability, so fewer phagocytes and less plasma reach the wound
    • No effect at all, since histamine has no role in the response to tissue damage

  15. Which statement evaluates the claim that non-specific responses are unimportant because antibodies do the real work?

    • The claim is accurate, since phagocytes are unable to destroy pathogens without the help of plasma cells
    • The claim is inaccurate, since non-specific responses act rapidly and are often the first line of defence before specific responses begin
    • The claim is inaccurate only in viral infections, since bacteria are never affected by non-specific responses
    • The claim is accurate, since non-specific responses only work after antibodies have been produced in large amounts

  16. Which of the following best explains why lysozyme is less effective against some bacteria?

    • Some bacteria, such as Gram-negative species, have an outer membrane that shields much of the peptidoglycan from the enzyme
    • Some bacteria have an outer capsid that binds lysozyme and prevents it from reaching the cell surface
    • Some bacteria are too small for lysozyme to bind to, because their cell walls are made of cellulose
    • Some bacteria produce large amounts of histamine, which neutralises lysozyme in the surrounding tissue

  17. Which example is a non-specific response that acts within minutes of infection?

    • Class switching of antibody production within the lymph nodes of the neck
    • Clonal expansion of B cells that produces a large population of plasma cells
    • Production of memory T cells that persist in the blood for many years after exposure
    • Inflammation triggered by histamine release from mast cells in damaged tissue

  18. Vasodilation during inflammation results in:

    • Reduced blood flow and a cold, pale appearance of the tissue at the site of infection
    • A complete blockage of the capillaries, which stops fluid and cells from reaching the site
    • A general rise in blood pressure throughout the body, with no effect on the local tissue
    • Increased blood flow, warmth and redness in the affected area of tissue

  19. Which feature makes neutrophils particularly important in the early stages of a bacterial infection?

    • They are the only cells that can present antigens to helper T cells in the early stages
    • They produce antibodies that remain in the circulation for many years after the infection
    • They are abundant in the blood and migrate quickly to infected tissue, where they phagocytose bacteria
    • They are rarely found in the blood, so they act only once they reach the lymph nodes

  20. A drug fully suppresses inflammation at a wound. Which outcome is most likely?

    • The immune response is strengthened, because histamine is required for the production of antibodies
    • Pathogens are destroyed more quickly, because phagocytes are removed from the blood by the drug
    • Interferon levels increase, because inflammation normally stops cells from producing interferon
    • Pathogens may spread more easily because phagocyte recruitment and fluid-borne defences are reduced

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