Immune Evasion

Immune evasion occurs when pathogens like viruses or bacteria develop strategies to avoid detection or destruction by the body's immune system. This allows them to persist, multiply, and cause illness despite immune defenses. They may change their surface proteins, hide within cells, or suppress immune responses. Understanding immune evasion helps in designing effective vaccines and treatments, as it explains how some diseases can persist or recur despite immune activity. In essence, it's a survival tactic pathogens use to bypass the immune system’s efforts to eliminate them.