Molecular Function
antigenic variation
Subclass of:
Immunogenetic Phenomena; Variation (Genetics)
Definitions related to antigenic variation:
  • A process by which a symbiont evades the host adaptive immune response by changing antigenic determinants on the symbiont surface that are exposed to host antibodies.
    Gene Ontology Dictionary
    Gene Ontology Consortium, 2021
  • 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)
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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