Among the natural defenses present in tears is the protein lactoferrin. as youcan infer from its name, it is also present in milk and other body secretions, andits function involves binding iron ions. the presence of lactoferrin in tears isprotective against bacterial infection . all pathogens must acquire iron from their environment andlactoferrin ensures that the iron concentration is low. b. pathogens with magnetosomes will be segregated from the eye tissueand swept away by the tears. c. free iron serves as an immune signal to recruit t cells to the eye. d. in the presence of lysozyme, as found in tears, the proteins form aprotective barrier on the lens.