Antigenic Variation (also known as Antigen Variation, Variation, Antigen): 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

NIH MeSH · D000940Phenomena and Processes

Antigenic Variation

Also known asAntigen Variation · Variation, Antigen · Antigenic Variability · Variability, Antigenic · Variation, Antigenic · Antigen Switching · Switching, Antigen · Antigenic Switching · Switching, Antigenic · Antigenic Diversity · Diversity, Antigenic

Definition

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)

MeSH classification

  • G05.365.073
  • G12.500.249

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Related concepts

Allelic Imbalance

A situation where one member (allele) of a gene pair is lost (LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY) or amplified.

Antibody Diversity

The phenomenon of immense variability characteristic of ANTIBODIES. It enables the IMMUNE SYSTEM to react specifically against the essential…

Antigenic Drift and Shift

Changes in the ANTIGEN population by slow and minor (antigenic drift) or sudden and major mutations (antigenic shift). Accumulation of minor…

Base Pair Mismatch

The presence of an non-complementary base in double-stranded DNA (DNA mismatch) caused by spontaneous deamination of cytosine or adenine, mi…

Common questions about Antigenic Variation

What does Antigenic Variation mean in medicine?
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) This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Antigenic Variation known by any other names?
Yes. Antigenic Variation is also referred to as Antigen Variation, Variation, Antigen, Antigenic Variability, Variability, Antigenic in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Antigenic Variation sit in the medical classification?
Antigenic Variation falls under the broader medical category "Phenomena and Processes" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: G05.365.073, G12.500.249). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Antigenic Variation?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000940) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗