Read the following Assertion and Reason and choose the correct option. Assertion: Pathogens that enter the gut must adapt to survive the low pH of the stomach. Reason: The acidic environment of the stomach and digestive enzymes pose a challenge for gut pathogens.

Step-by-step solution

A classic case in medicine, that of Mary Mallon nicknamed Typhoid Mary, is worth mentioning here. She was a cook by profession and was a typhoid carrier who continued to spread typhoid for several years through the food she prepared. Bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are responsible for the disease pneumonia in humans which infects the alveoli (air filled sacs) of the lungs. As a result of the infection, the alveoli get filled with fluid leading to severe problems in respiration. The