The K antigen of the family Enterobacteriaceae is

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Multiple Choice

The K antigen of the family Enterobacteriaceae is

Explanation:
The K antigen is the capsule polysaccharide antigen of the Enterobacteriaceae. Capsule antigens are heat-labile, meaning they can be inactivated by heat, unlike the somatic O antigen on LPS, which is heat-stable. The K antigen is located on the capsule itself, not on the flagellum (that would be the H antigen). Shigella is typically grouped by the somatic O antigen, not by capsule antigens. So describing the K antigen as heat-labile best fits how this capsule-associated antigen behaves.

The K antigen is the capsule polysaccharide antigen of the Enterobacteriaceae. Capsule antigens are heat-labile, meaning they can be inactivated by heat, unlike the somatic O antigen on LPS, which is heat-stable. The K antigen is located on the capsule itself, not on the flagellum (that would be the H antigen). Shigella is typically grouped by the somatic O antigen, not by capsule antigens. So describing the K antigen as heat-labile best fits how this capsule-associated antigen behaves.

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