Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hi, im doing a research project on why we need NEW flu vaccine every year
i know it because of the flu viruses mutating so the antibodies can't provide protection against the new viruses
i want to know how antigenic drift plays into the mutation of the RNA viruses and if they mutate fast or slow after getting the vaccine. how long does it take for the new virus strains to start appearing?
During antigenic shift what happens to the influenza A virus? What does it change into?

Hi - that's a great question.

how long does it take for the new virus strains to start appearing? This is complicated because it depends on a few things - strength of the mutation (sometimes the antibodies can still bind, but not as well, leading to a lesser immune response), how well the virus is transmitted, if the mutation causes other effects (like weakened virus). The antigenic drift is a process always occurring. Virus replication is FAST and by nature, imperfect, so many mutations are generated, giving the virus a hug advantage - constant drift!

During antigenic shift what happens to the influenza A virus? What does it change into? The part of the virus that the antibodies bind to are mutated... so the antibody doesn't bind to it anymore. Since it can't bind, the immune system does not recognize the virus, so it makes us really sick. The whole virus is the same except that little piece that the antibody should bind to.

I hope that helps. Let me know if more questions come up.
Tonya

Thank you so much!!!! that really helps
i have a few more questions
my project is on why we need NEW flu vaccine every year...what should my title be?
Viruses mutate only little and stays pretty much the same and mutates slowly over time in antigenic drift; but they mutate into a more different virus and mutate fast in antigenic shift...is that correct?
Antigenic shift occurs in influenza A and b virus but antigenic shift occurs only in influenza A virus...correct?
Seeing what my project is about what should my statement of problem be...Control? Independent and dependent variable?

During antigenic shift, the surface antigens change but what about the 8 strand RNA inside?...doesn't that change too?

my project is on why we need NEW flu vaccine every year...what should my title be? Maybe Antigenic drift: the reason for yearly vaccines

Viruses mutate only little and stays pretty much the same and mutates slowly over time in antigenic drift; but they mutate into a more different virus and mutate fast in antigenic shift...is that correct? YES

Antigenic shift occurs in influenza A and b virus but antigenic shift occurs only in influenza A virus...correct? I am not sure - if you google this you should find it pretty easily.

Seeing what my project is about what should my statement of problem be...Control? Independent and dependent variable? What is your method? I missed that...

During antigenic shift, the surface antigens change but what about the 8 strand RNA inside?...doesn't that change too? Yes, the surface antigens change because the instructions the make those antigens changed = the RNA message changed (mutated).