GMAT Official Guide 2019 In response to viral infection

[BTGmoderatorDC]

In response to viral infection, the immune systems of mice typically produce antibodies that destroy the virus by binding to proteins on its surface. Mice infected with a herpesvirus generally develop keratitis, a degenerative disease affecting part of the eye. Since proteins on the surface of cells in this part of the eye closely resemble those on the herpesvirus surface, scientists hypothesize that these cases of keratitis are caused by antibodies to herpesvirus.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to support the scientists' reasoning?

A) Other types of virus have surface proteins that closely resemble proteins found in various organs of mice.
B) Mice that are infected with a herpesvirus but do not develop keratitis produce as many antibodies as infected mice that do develop keratitis.
C) Mice infected with a new strain of the herpesvirus that has different surface proteins did not develop keratitis.
D) Mice that have never been infected with a herpesvirus can sometimes develop keratitis.
E) There are mice that are unable to form antibodies in response to herpes infections, and these mice contract herpes at roughly the same rate as other mice.

C

[deloitte247]

Option A - INCORRECT.
This option is also an assumption of the scientist that other types of virus have surface proteins that closely resemble proteins found in various organs of mice, but it is not strong enough to justify the claims of the scientist in this argument.

Option B - INCORRECT.
However, Mice that are infected with a herpes-virus but do not develop keratitis produce as many antibodies more than infected mice that do develop keratitis. This can't be assumed as the scientist claim.

Option C - CORRECT.
This is the best option to that supports the claim of the scientist. Mice infected with a new strain of the herpes-virus that has different surface proteins did not develop keratitis because, the immune systems of mice typically produce antibodies that destroy the virus by binding to proteins on its surface.

Option D - INCORRECT.
Mice that have never been infected with a herpes-virus can sometimes develop keratitis. This claim is not supported with facts, so, does not deem fit to support the scientist claim.

Option E - INCORRECT.
If there are mice that are unable to form antibodies in response to herpes infections definitely they have a high rate of contracting herpes compared to other mice who can form antibodies to prevent them from contracting herpes-virus.