The epitopes recognized by T cells are always:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Linear. T cells recognize linear epitopes, which are sequences of amino acids displayed in a linear fashion on the antigen's surface. This recognition occurs through the T cell receptor binding to the linear epitope. Conformational epitopes (A) involve multiple amino acid residues brought together in a specific three-dimensional structure. Epitopes on the antigen surface (C) are correct, but not all T cell epitopes are necessarily on the surface. Epitopes buried inside the antigen (D) are not accessible to T cell receptors for recognition. Thus, the correct choice is B due to the linear presentation of epitopes for T cell recognition.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan is a structural component of bacterial cell walls and does not directly contribute to the pathogenicity or virulence of the bacterium. Flagella aid in motility and colonization, effector proteins manipulate host cells, and toxins damage host tissues, all of which are virulence factors. Peptidoglycan is essential for maintaining cell shape and integrity but does not directly enhance the ability of the bacteria to cause disease.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because NLRP3 is not found in complex with pro-caspase 1 in resting, non-activated cells. Inflammasome formation requires assembly of NLRP3 with ASC and pro-caspase 1. Choices A, B, and C are correct statements because activation of receptors like TLRs can trigger inflammasome formation, extracellular ATP can induce inflammasome formation, and environmental triggers such as asbestos can also lead to inflammasome activation.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Bone marrow. B cells undergo maturation in the bone marrow, where they develop from hematopoietic stem cells. This is where they acquire their antigen receptors and differentiate into mature B cells. Lymph nodes (A) are primarily responsible for filtering lymph and containing immune cells. The spleen (B) is involved in filtering blood and storing immune cells. The thymus (D) is where T cells mature, not B cells. Therefore, the correct site for B cell maturation is the bone marrow.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The inflammatory response can be triggered by microbial-infected cells releasing cytokines, internal tissue injury leading to the release of inflammatory mediators, and the migration of erythrocytes from the spleen in response to inflammation. Therefore, all of the choices - A, B, and C - are correct in contributing to the inflammatory response. Each option plays a role in the complex cascade of events that lead to inflammation.