Organism

Influenza Virus

TL;DR

Exemplifies Red Queen arms race through antigenic drift - evolving new strains annually that evade immune recognition, requiring updated vaccines each year.

Virus

Exemplifies Red Queen arms race through antigenic drift - evolving new strains annually that evade immune recognition, requiring updated vaccines each year. The perpetual race between viral evolution and immune/vaccine response demonstrates that neither side can achieve permanent victory.

Notable Traits of Influenza Virus

  • Annual antigenic drift
  • Requires yearly vaccine updates
  • Perpetual immune evasion

Related Mechanisms for Influenza Virus