Antigenic Variation
Pathogens evolve rapidly, changing their surface proteins to avoid immune recognition.
Pathogens evolve rapidly, changing their surface proteins to avoid immune recognition. Hosts evolve immune receptors that recognize pathogen antigens; pathogens counter by evolving new variants. Influenza virus evolves new strains annually (antigenic drift) requiring updated vaccines. HIV evolves within individual hosts faster than immune systems can respond. Malaria parasites evolve to evade recognition while humans evolved genetic defenses (sickle cell trait, Duffy antigen negativity).
Business Application of Antigenic Variation
Antigenic variation parallels how competitors constantly modify their 'surface features' (products, marketing, pricing) to evade competitive responses, requiring continuous adaptation to detect and counter new variants.