Diphtheria is caused by

Options

A. poisons released by living bacterial cells into the host tissue
B. poisons released from dead bacterial cells into the host tissue
C. poisons released by virus into the host tissues
D. excessive immune response by the host's body

Answer

A

Explanation

Toxins released from Corynebacterium diphtheriase cause diphtheria. Actually, bacterial cells do not contain gene for toxin production, i.e. a phage carries the gene for it Only those lysogenised cell of C. diphtheriae which carry `beta`-phage, can produce the toxin and cause diphtheria.