Aspergillus peptide-Human Leukocyte Antigen complex (Aspergillus peptide-HLA complex)

Aspergillus peptide antigens presented on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules are the fundamental units recognized by the cellular immune system to identify and eliminate Aspergillus species, primarily Aspergillus fumigatus. These complexes consist of short fungal peptide fragments, derived from immunodominant proteins like Crf1, Gel1, or Asp f 1, bound within the peptide-binding groove of HLA Class I or Class II molecules on the surface of host cells (Stuehler et al., 2011, Blood; Bacher et al., 2014, Cell). The interaction between these peptide-HLA (pMHC) complexes and specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) is the critical step in initiating a protective immune response, leading to T-cell proliferation and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In therapeutic contexts, these complexes serve as the target for adoptive T-cell therapies (ACT), where donor-derived Aspergillus-specific T cells are used to treat invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients (Papadopoulou et al., 2014, Science Translational Medicine). Furthermore, identifying these specific epitopes is essential for the development of peptide-based vaccines and TCR-engineered cellular products designed to provide targeted antifungal immunity.

Other names

Aspergillus pMHCAspergillus-specific HLA-peptide complexAspergillus T-cell epitopesMHC-presented Aspergillus antigens

Recognition of the peptide-HLA complex by specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) induces T-cell activation, proliferation, and the release of effector cytokines or cytotoxic molecules to eliminate the pathogen (Stuehler et al., 2011, Blood).