Person A was born with a genetic defect that results in an inability to produce complement component C3. Person B was born with a different genetic defect and is unable to produce complement component C5. Who would have a more difficulty in eliminating a bacterial infection? Why?

 

Person A would have a more difficulty in eliminating a bacterial infection.

Compliment components play a crucial role for our innate immune system and consist of group of serum proteins. The role of different specific complement protein in normal functions is different and their deficiencies causes clinical problems accordingly in patients.

Compliment component protein C3 is found in human on chromosome 19, it is encoded by C3 gene. Deficiency of C3 which is a major opsonin, i.e., a molecule induces phagocytosis by marking antigens for an immune response, causes in recurrence of infections which are pyogenic specially with encapsulated bacteria and thus making the people with C3 deficiency more prone to bacterial infections.

C5 compliment component is a protein which is encoded by C5 gene in human. Deficiency of C5 is inherited as autosomal recessive traits causing the deficiency of membrane-attack complex.

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