Influenza virus internal protein peptide-MHC complex (Influenza pMHC)

Internal influenza viral proteins, such as Nucleoprotein (NP), Matrix protein 1 (M1), and the Polymerase complex (PA, PB1, PB2), are highly conserved across various influenza A and B strains, unlike the rapidly evolving surface glycoproteins Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase (Source: Sridhar et al., Nature Medicine, 2013). These internal proteins are processed intracellularly and presented as short peptide fragments on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules (Source: Townsend et al., Cell, 1986). T-cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells specifically recognize these peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes, triggering an immune response that can eliminate virus-infected cells. This recognition is a cornerstone of universal influenza vaccine strategies, which aim to provide broad-spectrum, heterosubtypic protection against multiple viral subtypes, including those with pandemic potential (Source: Erbelding et al., J Infect Dis, 2018). Current clinical candidates, such as OVX836 and FLU-v, are designed to prime the immune system to recognize these conserved pMHC targets, thereby reducing disease severity and viral shedding regardless of surface mutations.

Other names

Influenza T-cell epitopesMHC-presented influenza peptidesConserved influenza antigen-MHC complexInfluenza NP/M1 peptide-HLA complexHeterosubtypic influenza pMHC

Vaccine-induced or adoptive T-cell recognition of conserved viral peptides presented by MHC, leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) mediated lysis of infected cells and cytokine-mediated viral inhibition.