Antigenic Drift vs. Antigenic Shift
View the Antigenic Drift Illustration showing how antigenic drift, a mutation of the genes that code for the flu virus’s surface antigens, enables a virus to escape or bypass the body’s defenses.
High resolution illustration is available for downloading.
View the Antigenic Shift Illustration showing antigenic shift, the genetic change that enables a flu strain to jump from one animal species to another, including humans.
High resolution illustration is available for downloading.
Credit: These images are in the public domain. Please credit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).