Review Question - QID 214932

A 50-year-old woman with alcohol-use disorder and history of intravenous drug use presents to the emergency department with altered mental status. She is brought in after staff at her homeless shelter noticed that she looked unwell and was getting increasingly disoriented. The physician is able to ascertain that she has had headaches and a fever for the past 2 days. Her temperature is 102.2°F (39°C), blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg, pulse is 88/min, and respirations are 10/min. Physical exam is notable for a disheveled woman with light sensitivity and pain with neck flexion. The patient is empirically started on vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and ampicillin. Which of following mechanisms is responsible for the virulence of the organism that is covered by ampicillin?