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The genetic shift process is different from genetic drift, which primarily involves random changes in gene frequencies within a population. In contrast, genetic shift involves the exchange or acquisition of genetic material from another population or species.
Antigenic shift is contrasted with antigenic drift, which is the natural mutation over time of known strains of influenza (or other things, in a more general sense) which may lead to a loss of immunity, or in vaccine mismatch.
This page provides an overview of what scientists have learned about the basic mechanisms behind the influenza virus’s ability to change. Also, this section will help you sort through the major terms used in the discussion, from genetic shift and genetic drift to triple reassortment.
Influenza viruses undergo antigenic evolution through antigenic drift and shift in their surface glycoproteins. This has forced frequent updates of vaccine antigens to ensure that the somewhat narrowly focused vaccine-induced immune responses defend against circulating strains.
Antigenic shift refers to the gene recombination occurring when influenza viruses re-assort. Mutations causing minute changes in the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens on the surface of the Influenza virus is termed antigenic drift.
Drift is a subtler process than shift and involves the accumulation of mutations within the antibody-binding sites in the hemagglutinin (see Figure), the neuraminidase, or both that abrogate...
Each virus-infected cell can produce millions of viral particles, only a small fraction of which will successfully bind to and infect another cell. Genetic differences between viruses in a population can come about in three different ways (drift, shift, and recombination) which are explained below.