Antigenic Variation

Change in the surface ANTIGEN of a microorganism. There are two different types. One is a phenomenon, especially associated with INFLUENZA VIRUSES, where they undergo spontaneous variation both as slow antigenic drift and sudden emergence of new strains (antigenic shift). The second type is when certain PARASITES, especially trypanosomes, PLASMODIUM, and BORRELIA, survive the immune response of the host by changing the surface coat (antigen switching). (From Herbert et al., The Dictionary of Immunology, 4th ed)

Year introduced: 1988

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Tree Number(s): G05.365.073, G12.500.249

MeSH Unique ID: D000940

Entry Terms:

• Antigen Variation
• Variation, Antigen
• Antigenic Variability
• Variability, Antigenic
• Variation, Antigenic
• Antigen Switching
• Switching, Antigen
• Antigenic Switching
• Switching, Antigenic
• Antigenic Diversity
• Diversity, Antigenic

Previous Indexing:

• Antigenic Determinants (1975-1987)
• Genetics, Microbial (1973-1987)
• Variation (Genetics) (1966-1987)

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Genetic Phenomena
Genetic Variation
Antigenic Variation
Antigenic Drift and Shift

All MeSH Categories
Phenomena and Processes Category
Immune System Phenomena
Immunogenetic Phenomena
Antigenic Variation
Antigenic Drift and Shift