Biology (11th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 1259188132
ISBN 13: 978-1-25918-813-8

Chapter 51 - The Immune System - Figure 51.4 - Inquiry Question - Page 1061: 1

Answer

If an NK cell killed a virally-infected cell by simply bursting it, many functional viral particles would be released, spreading disease rather than limiting or ending it.

Work Step by Step

The key here is to see that NK cells don't just kill their targets: they destroy the contents. If they did not, as with viral particles, they might make matters worse, rather than better.
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