Every year the common flu vaccine is designed to protect against three different strains of the influenza virus.How is your body able to raise antibodies against so many new forms of the flu virus?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The body is able to raise antibodies against many new forms of the flu virus through recombination of the gene used to make antibodies. This is known as somatic recombination and it allows for the generation of a vast array of different antibody molecules, each capable of recognizing a specific antigen. This process allows the immune system to respond to a wide variety of viral antigens, including new strains of the flu virus that may emerge from year to year.

Every Year the Common Flu Vaccine Is Designed to Protect