What is most likely to occur in a patient infected with a mutant strain of bordetella pertussis that lacks functional adhesins?
a) the bacterium would not be able to hide within blood clots.
b) the bacterium would more likely be phagocytized.
c) the bacterium would be highly pathogenic.
d) the bacterium would be less likely to colonize the patient's lower respiratory system.

The correct answer is D.

Explanation:

Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative coccobacillus that causes a disease called whooping cough.

The bacterium infests the patients by colonizing lung epithelial cells. To do so, it requires adhesins, called filamentous haemagglutinin, fimbriae and pertactin. Once the bacterium is attached to the lung epithelial cells, it produces a cytotoxin that prevents their cilia from moving.

Another virulent factor from B. pertussis is the pertussis toxin, which alters host immune system through the inhibition of phagocytes response to it.