Antigenic shift
Antigenic Shift
Antigenic shift (/ænˈtɪdʒənɪk ʃɪft/) is a significant change in the genome of a virus that results in new proteins on the virus's surface. This process is most common in influenza viruses.
Etymology
The term "antigenic shift" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against, "gen" meaning produce, and the English word "shift" meaning change. It refers to the change or shift in the antigens produced by a virus.
Mechanism
Antigenic shift occurs when two different strains of a virus, both infecting the same cell, swap genetic material, or reassort, during replication. This can result in a new subtype of virus, which can be a cause for pandemics. This is because the immune system has difficulty recognizing and responding to the new subtype.
Related Terms
- Antigenic drift: A minor change in the genome of a virus, resulting in small changes to the virus's surface proteins.
- Reassortment: The process by which genetic material from different strains of a virus is mixed.
- Pandemic: An outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antigenic shift
- Wikipedia's article - Antigenic shift
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