MeSH Browser

MeSH Heading: Antigenic Variation
Tree Number(s): G05.365.073; G12.500.249
Unique ID: D000940
RDF Unique Identifier: http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D000940
Annotation: microbes only; ANTIBODY DIVERSITY is also available
Scope Note: 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)
Entry Term(s): Antigen Switching; Antigen Variation; Antigenic Diversity; Antigenic Switching; Antigenic Variability; Switching, Antigenic; Variation, Antigenic
Previous Indexing: Antigenic Determinants (1975-1987); Genetics, Microbial (1973-1987); Variation (Genetics) (1966-1987)
Public MeSH Note: 1988
History Note: 1988
Date Established: 1988/01/01
Date of Entry: 1987/05/11
Revision Date: 2008/07/08

Allowable Qualifiers: drug effects (DE)

genetics (GE)

immunology (IM)

physiology (PH)

radiation effects (RE)

Concept UI: M0001406
Scope Note: 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)
Terms: Antigenic Variation Preferred Term
Term UI T002809
Date01/01/1999
LexicalTag NON
ThesaurusID NLM (1988); Antigen Variation
Term UI T002810
Date05/11/1987
LexicalTag NON
ThesaurusID UNK (19XX); Antigenic Variability
Term UI T002811
Date04/03/1998
LexicalTag NON
ThesaurusID NLM (1999); Variation, Antigenic
Term UI T002808
Date05/11/1987
LexicalTag NON
ThesaurusID UNK (19XX)

Antigenic Variation MeSH Descriptor Data 2024