# DBT JRF 2020 — Question 72

Exam: DBT JRF 2020 · Section: B · Topic: Microbiology · Difficulty: Easy

## Question

Which of the following is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection?

## Options

- **A.** lymphopenia
- **B.** pneumonia
- **C.** all of the given options are correct
- **D.** cytokine storm

## Answer

Option C

## Explanation

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) causes COVID-19, a multi-system disease with hallmark features: (1) Pneumonia — SARS-CoV-2 infects ACE2-expressing type II pneumocytes and ciliated airway epithelial cells via S protein-ACE2 binding; inflammatory infiltration causes interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage. (2) Lymphopenia — marked reduction in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells, due to virus-induced apoptosis, direct infection, and inflammatory cytokine-mediated lymphoid organ damage. (3) Cytokine storm — in severe COVID-19, dysregulated immune activation produces massive IL-6, IL-1 $\beta$ , TNF- $\alpha$ , IFN- $\gamma$ release causing multi-organ dysfunction (ARDS, renal failure, cardiac injury). All three features are central to COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Source: https://mypyqbuddy.com/questions/which-of-the-following-is-associated-with-sars-cov-2-6a05a8a02adafec470293260