Conceptantigenic shift / 基因重配 / reassortment
Antigenic Shift
A process in which influenza viruses exchange complete RNA gene segments with other strains through genetic reassortment, producing hybrid viruses with entirely novel antigenic characteristics. Antigenic shift is the principal molecular mechanism underlying influenza pandemics.
Timeline (last 90 days)
Oct 4
The genome of influenza A viruses consists of 8 independent RNA segments, which can randomly reassort when different viruses simultaneously infect the same cell; this process is called genetic reassortment and is the primary mechanism of antigenic shift.
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