HLA-A*11:01-presented Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1-derived peptide (HLA-A*11:01-EBNA1)

The HLA-A*11:01-presented Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1)-derived peptide is a specific peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) target utilized in the development of immunotherapies for EBV-associated diseases. EBNA1 is a viral protein required for the persistence and replication of the Epstein-Barr virus genome and is expressed in all EBV-related malignancies, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and various lymphomas (PMID: 21441915). The HLA-A*11:01 allele is particularly frequent in East Asian and Southeast Asian populations, where NPC is endemic, making this specific epitope a high-priority target for precision medicine (PMID: 25609445). Therapeutic strategies targeting this complex include T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells and peptide-based vaccines designed to induce a robust cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against cells displaying the viral antigen. By specifically recognizing the EBNA1 peptide in the context of HLA-A*11:01, these treatments aim to selectively eliminate EBV-infected or transformed cells while sparing healthy tissue (PMID: 15141007).

Other names

EBNA1/HLA-A*11:01 complexHLA-A*11:01-restricted EBV EBNA1 epitopeEBV EBNA1 peptide-MHC complexAVFDRKSDAK-HLA-A*11:01 complex

T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition and binding to the peptide-MHC complex, triggering cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation and subsequent lysis of EBV-infected or malignant cells.