system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 6-year-old boy presents with fever, sore throat, hoarseness, and neck enlargement. The symptoms started 3 days ago and progressed gradually with an elevated temperature and swollen lymph nodes. His family immigrated recently from Honduras. He was born via spontaneous vaginal delivery at 39 weeks after an uneventful gestational period and he is now on a catch-up vaccination schedule. He lives with several family members, including his parents, in a small apartment. No one in the apartment smokes tobacco. On presentation, the patient’s blood pressure is 110/75 mm Hg, heart rate is 103/min, respiratory rate is 20/min, and temperature is 39.4°C (102.9°F). On physical examination, the child is acrocyanotic and somnolent. There is widespread cervical edema and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes. The tonsils are covered with a gray, thick membrane which spreads beyond the tonsillar bed and reveals bleeding, erythematous mucosa with gentle scraping. The lungs are clear to auscultation. Which of the following is the target of the virulence factor produced by the pathologic organism infecting this child?
assistant
Eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF-2)