Zaymiey

🔬 Biology  ·  Microbes in Human Welfare  ·  NEET

What distinguishes the mode of action of streptokinase from other fibrinolytic agents in clinical use?

Answer: Streptokinase forms a complex with plasminogen, inducing a conformational change that activates it to plasmin, which then lyses fibrin clots.

  • A Streptokinase cleaves fibrin strands directly and immediately, rarely involving plasminogen in the process in typical laboratory settings
  • B Streptokinase forms a complex with plasminogen, inducing a conformational change that activates it to plasmin, which then lyses fibrin clots
  • C Streptokinase is clinically effective mainly on blood clots that are less than roughly one hour old under usual circumstances according to most researchers
  • D Streptokinase inhibits thrombin activity directly mainly to prevent the formation of new blood clots in the majority of cases studied as widely reported

Correct answer: B. Streptokinase forms a complex with plasminogen, inducing a conformational change that activates it to plasmin, which then lyses fibrin clots

Explanation: Unlike direct thrombolytics, streptokinase is an indirect thrombolytic - it forms a 1:1 complex with plasminogen, causing a conformational change that exposes the active site to generate plasmin, which then degrades fibrin in clots.

Sewage Treatment FlowPrimaryphysical filtering+ sedimentationSecondary (aerobic)aeration tank, flocsconsume organic matterActivated sludgesettles out;part reused as inoculumSludge digesterANAEROBIC →biogas (CH₄)Note the switch: aerobic microbes in the tank, anaerobic microbes in the digester

Sewage passes through physical removal (primary), then aerobic biological treatment where microbes form flocs that consume organic matter (secondary); the settled activated sludge is then digested anaerobically to produce biogas - a deliberate switch from aerobic to anaerobic conditions between stages.

Concept context

Microorganisms in food, medicine, sewage treatment, biocontrol, and biofertilizers

Read the full Microbes in Human Welfare notes →