Human T-cell receptor specific for Plasmodium falciparum Pre-Erythrocytic and Blood Stage (PfPEBS)-derived peptides

Human T-cell receptors (TCRs) specific for PfPEBS-derived peptides are specialized immune receptors that recognize antigens from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Frontiers in Immunology, 2019). PfPEBS (Pre-Erythrocytic and Blood Stage) is a synthetic polypeptide derived from the Pf11.1 antigen, a large protein expressed during both the liver and blood stages of the parasite's life cycle (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2012). These TCRs bind to specific PfPEBS peptide fragments presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, primarily on the surface of infected hepatocytes or antigen-presenting cells (NIH, 2025). This recognition is a critical component of the cellular immune response, leading to the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which produce pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon-gamma to inhibit parasite development (Infection and Immunity, 2010). In the context of drug and vaccine development, these TCRs are targets for monitoring vaccine-induced immunity or for developing adoptive T-cell therapies aimed at providing sterile protection against malaria infection (PLoS ONE, 2015). The interaction between these TCRs and PfPEBS-derived peptides is currently a focus of clinical research, particularly in the evaluation of the PfPEBS-LSP vaccine candidate (Frontiers in Immunology, 2019).

Other names

T-cell receptor specific for Pf11.1 antigenTCR specific for Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic and blood stage antigenPfPEBS-specific T-cell receptorT-cell receptor specific for PfPEBS-LSP

The T-cell receptor recognizes specific peptide fragments derived from the Pf11.1 protein (PfPEBS) when presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of infected cells or antigen-presenting cells. This binding event triggers a signaling cascade that leads to T-cell activation, proliferation, and the secretion of effector cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which contribute to the elimination of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in both the liver and blood stages (Frontiers in Immunology, 2019; NIH, 2025).