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- athrú antaigineach Reference Faomhadh an téarma seo mar chuid de Thionscadal Lex
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- antigenic variation
- en
- Definition process by which an infectious organism alters its surface proteins in order to evade a host immune response Reference "Wikipedia > Antigenic variation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigenic_variation [30.7.2010]"
- Comment "Antigenic variation not only enables immune evasion but also allows pathogens to cause reinfection as they are not recognised by the host's immune system. When an organism is exposed to a particular antigen (i.e. a protein on the surface of a bacterium) an immune response is stimulated and antibodies are generated to target that specific antigen. The immune system will then ""remember"" that particular antigen (immunological memory) and if the host is exposed to that same antigen again, those antibodies will act rapidly to destroy the pathogen. However, if the antigen is changed, the host's immune system will not recognise it and the pathogen can cause infection again whilst the immune system generates new antibodies to target the new antigen. Antigenic variation enables viruses to cross the species barrier (e.g. H5N1 virus ""jumping"" from birds to then infect humans). Finally, it also allows pathogens to establish persistent infections in their host.Note ref.: Wikipedia > Antigenic variation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigenic_variation [30.7.2010]"