Structured Summary
Abstract
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)
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Synonyms
11 entry terms
- Antigen Variation
- Antigenic Variability
- Variation, Antigenic
- Variability, Antigenic
- Variation, Antigen
- Antigen Switching
- Antigenic Diversity
- Antigenic Switching
- Switching, Antigenic
- Diversity, Antigenic
- Switching, Antigen
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Aspects Covered
5 allowable subheadings
Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.
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Indexing Annotation
microbes only; ANTIBODY DIVERSITY is also available
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History Note
1988
MeSH Record
Previous Indexing
- Antigenic Determinants (1975-1987)
- Genetics, Microbial (1973-1987)
- Variation (Genetics) (1966-1987)
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AMA Style
References
- National Library of Medicine. Antigenic Variation. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000940. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000940
- Antigenic Variation. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigenic_variation
- Antigenic Variation. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4774739