BIOL 230 Lecture Guide - Flash Animation of a Capsule Covering C3b

A Bacterial Capsule Preventing C3b Receptors on Phagocytes from
Binding to C3b Attached to a Bacterial Cell Wall

In some bacteria, the capsule covers the opsonin C3b bound to the bacterial cell wall so that it can't bind to C3b receptors (called CR1) on the surface of phagocytes.

A Bacterial Capsule Preventing C3b Receptors on Phagocytes from Binding to C3b Attached to a Bacterial Cell Wall

A Bacterial Capsule Preventing C3b Receptors on Phagocytes from
Binding to C3b Attached to a Bacterial Cell Wall