CD8+ T-cell receptor recognizing Coxiella burnetii peptides

The CD8+ T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for Coxiella burnetii peptides is a critical immune receptor complex that mediates the recognition and elimination of cells infected with the causative agent of Q fever. This TCR, expressed on the surface of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, specifically identifies bacterial epitopes—such as those derived from the CBU_1910 or CBU_0307 proteins—presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules, most notably HLA-A*02:01 (Skoog et al., 2020). Upon binding to these peptide-MHC complexes, the TCR initiates a signaling cascade that activates the T cell, leading to the secretion of effector cytokines like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and the release of perforin and granzymes to induce apoptosis in the infected host cell (Chen et al., 2021). While not a target for traditional small-molecule drugs, this receptor is a primary focus for the development of next-generation vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapies designed to enhance or restore cellular immunity in patients with acute or chronic Q fever (Reeves et al., 2020). Characterization of these TCRs is essential for identifying immunodominant epitopes and developing diagnostic tools to monitor T-cell responses in clinical settings.

Other names

Coxiella burnetii-specific T-cell receptorQ fever T-cell receptorCD8+ TCR for C. burnetiiHLA-A*02:01-restricted Coxiella burnetii TCR

The TCR recognizes specific Coxiella burnetii peptides presented by MHC class I molecules on the surface of infected cells, leading to the recruitment of CD3 and subsequent phosphorylation of ITAMs, which activates downstream signaling (e.g., ZAP-70, LAT) resulting in T-cell effector functions such as cytokine production and targeted cytolysis (Janeway et al., 2001; Skoog et al., 2020).