Unit 2 - Topic 5 - Parasitism - Section E - Immune Evasion

Question 1

What have parasites evolved

Answer 1

To evade the immune system

Question 2

What do endoparasites to do avoid detection

Answer 2

Mimic host antigens to evade detection and modify host immune response to reduce their chances of destruction

Question 3

What does antigenic variation allow some parasites to do

Answer 3

To change between different antigens during the course of infection of a host. It may also allow re-infection of the same host with the new variant

Question 4

How does some viruses integrating their genome escape immune surveillance

Answer 4

By integrating their genome into host genomes they exists in an inactive state known as latency. The virus becomes active again when favourable conditions arise