ELi5: why are some antibodies forgotten by the immune system but others (eg flu) remain for life?
In: Biology
So, the immune system doesn’t actually forget, with a few exceptions. What actually happens is the disease itself mutates, where it’s no longer recognized by the immune system as the old disease. It’s just that some diseases are more mutable then others. The flu is one of those diseases where new strains mutate frequently. Your immune system will recognize the old strains and defend against them, though.
There’s research that indicates that when you get the measles, it may wipe out all your immune “memory” up ’til then.
[deleted]
Latest Answers