Orthopoxvirus-specific T-cell receptor (OPXV TCR)

Orthopoxvirus-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) are heterodimeric surface proteins on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that mediate the recognition of viral antigens from the Orthopoxvirus genus, including Variola, Vaccinia, and Monkeypox viruses (Kennedy et al., 2010, PubMed ID: 20643951). These receptors identify specific viral peptide fragments presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and Class II molecules on the surface of infected or antigen-presenting cells (Sette et al., 2008, PubMed ID: 18490747). Upon binding, the TCR triggers a signaling cascade that leads to T-cell activation, resulting in the destruction of infected cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and the orchestration of the immune response by CD4+ helper T cells (NIH/NIAID, 2023). These receptors are the primary targets of vaccine-induced cellular immunity, providing long-lasting protection that often cross-reacts across different species within the Orthopoxvirus genus (Crotty et al., 2003, PubMed ID: 14585218). In therapeutic development, these TCRs are studied for use in adoptive T-cell therapies to treat severe infections in immunocompromised patients and to evaluate the breadth of protection offered by current vaccines against emerging strains like Mpox (Jing et al., 2022, PubMed ID: 36198317). Understanding the structural basis of TCR-antigen interaction is crucial for designing epitopes that elicit robust and durable cellular immune memory.

Other names

Orthopoxvirus-reactive T-cell receptorVaccinia-specific T-cell receptorVariola-specific T-cell receptorMpox-specific T-cell receptorOrthopoxvirus-specific TCR

Recognition of orthopoxvirus-derived peptide antigens presented by MHC molecules, leading to T-cell activation, proliferation, and effector functions such as lysis of infected cells and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.