The Alternative Pathway of Complement Activation Has an Important Role

Multiple Choice

The alternative pathway of complement activation has an important role in innate immunity, due to its ability to greatly amplify the amount of C3b deposited onto the pathogen surface. This amplification occurs because:

A) The C3 convertase of the alternative pathway is much more active than those of the classical and lectin pathways.
B) The C3 convertase of the alternative pathway works as a soluble enzyme in the plasma.
C) The C3 convertase of the alternative pathway cannot be inactivated by complement regulatory factors in the host.
D) The C3 convertase of the alternative pathway is more efficiently recruited to pathogen surfaces than the C3 convertases of the classical and lectin pathways.
E) The C3 convertase of the alternative pathway contains C3b, and can generate more of itself.