Why do mutated forms of viruses, which have altered surface proteins, pose a monitoring problem for a?

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Why do mutated forms of viruses, which have altered surface proteins, pose a monitoring problem for a?

person's memory cells?

2007-01-09 07:50:50 · 2 answers · asked by Sled Queen 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology

2 answers

Those surface proteins are the mechanism by which the immune system recognizes the virus. This is the basis of T-cell mediated immunity. If the virus can change its surface antigens, it can "slip by" the surveillance of the cellular immune system, and set up an infectious disease state without the body mounting a defensive immune response.

2007-01-09 08:25:12 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Because they keep information of one form of virus, but as it changes its surface proteins they will not immediately recognize it as the original one.

They "remember" one guy, but the same guy came again in a disguise.

2007-01-09 08:08:58 · answer #2 · answered by snakker2k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋