Infected host cell antigen

Infected host cell antigens refers not to a specific molecule or single therapeutic target, but rather to any antigenic marker or molecule displayed on the surface of a host cell that has been infected by a pathogen (such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite)[1][2][4]. These antigens are typically derived from pathogen proteins that are processed inside the infected cell and then presented on the cell surface bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules[3]. Their presence allows the immune system, especially T cells, to detect and destroy infected cells and is a central aspect of the adaptive immune response[3][4]. Since "infected host cell antigens" does not refer to a unique molecule, gene, or protein, it is not considered a canonical drug target, and it lacks both a common abbreviation and structured data such as specific interacting drugs, safety concerns, or biomarkers. Rather, it is a broad immunological concept describing how the body detects intracellular infection and triggers immune-mediated clearance of infected cells.