Antigenic drift
Antigenic Drift is a mechanism for viral evolution that is seen in both the influenza virus and the HIV virus. This process involves the accumulation of mutations within the genes that code for antibody binding sites. This results in a new strain of virus that is not recognized by pre-existing immune system memory cells, thus enabling the virus to spread throughout a population that was previously immune because of vaccination or a past infection.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The mechanism of antigenic drift can be understood in the context of the immune response. When a virus infects a host, the immune system responds by producing antibodies that recognize and bind to specific sites on the virus's surface proteins. These sites are known as antigens. The binding of an antibody to an antigen neutralizes the virus and marks it for destruction by the immune system.
However, the genetic material of viruses is often prone to errors during replication. These errors, or mutations, can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of the virus's surface proteins, altering the structure of the antigens. If these changes occur in the antibody binding sites, the existing antibodies may no longer recognize and bind to the virus effectively. This allows the virus to evade the immune response and continue to replicate within the host.
Consequences[edit | edit source]
The primary consequence of antigenic drift is the ability of the virus to evade the immune response, leading to continued infection and spread within a population. This is a major factor in the seasonal epidemics of influenza. Because the influenza virus undergoes antigenic drift, the vaccine composition must be reviewed and updated each year to match the circulating strains.
Antigenic drift also has implications for the treatment and prevention of HIV. The high mutation rate of the HIV virus leads to rapid antigenic drift, making it difficult to develop an effective vaccine.
See also[edit | edit source]
This virology related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD