Epstein-Barr virus latent and lytic antigen peptide–HLA class I complex (EBV pHLA-I)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent and lytic antigen peptide–HLA class I complexes are molecular assemblies presented on the surface of EBV-infected cells, serving as the primary recognition signal for the host's cellular immune system (PubMed: 31534026). These complexes are formed when viral proteins—either from the latent phase (such as EBNA1, LMP1, and LMP2) or the lytic phase (such as BZLF1)—are proteolytically processed into short peptides and loaded onto Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I molecules (PubMed: 25607524). In the context of EBV-associated diseases, including various lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, these complexes act as highly specific neoantigens that allow the immune system to distinguish malignant or infected cells from healthy ones (NIH: PMC7072461). Therapeutic interventions, such as adoptive T-cell therapies (e.g., Tabelecleucel) and TCR-like antibodies, are designed to bind these specific peptide-MHC combinations to induce targeted lysis of the target cells (EMA: Ebvallo Assessment Report). The efficacy of these treatments often depends on the specific HLA allele of the patient and the expression profile of the viral antigens, making them a cornerstone of precision immunotherapy for EBV-related pathologies (PubMed: 33451031).

Other names

EBV peptide-MHC complexEBV pMHCEBV antigen-HLA complexEBV-specific peptide-HLA class I complexEBV-HLA-I complex

Targeting of EBV-infected cells via T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of viral peptides presented on HLA class I molecules, inducing cytotoxic cell death.