A 64-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to 2

A 64-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to 2 days of abrupt-onset fever, malaise, and myalgia.  He has also had nasal discharge, sore throat, and a nonproductive cough.  The patient has a history of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  He is a former smoker but does not use alcohol or illicit drugs.  Temperature is 38.3 C (101 F) , blood pressure is 130/70 mm Hg, pulse is 96/min, and respirations are 18/min.  Physical examination shows watery nasal discharge, pharyngeal erythema, and clear lungs on auscultation.  Droplet precautions are immediately instituted to prevent spread of the infection.  Hand hygiene with an alcohol-based disinfectant following patient contact is also initiated.  This patient's infecting pathogen is likely susceptible to the disinfectant due to the presence of which of the following characteristics?

A) Lipid bilayer envelope
B) Nucleocapsid proteins
C) Segmented RNA genome
D) Surface glycoproteins
E) Surface ion channels

Correct Answer:

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