T-cell receptor recognizing Coxiella burnetii peptide–MHC complex (TCR-C. burnetii-pMHC) (TCR-C. burnetii-pMHC)

T-cell receptors (TCRs) recognizing Coxiella burnetii peptide–MHC complexes are critical components of the adaptive immune system's response to Q fever [PubMed: 22438792]. These receptors, located on the surface of T lymphocytes, specifically bind to antigenic peptides derived from the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii when presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules [PubMed: 31434714]. This recognition event triggers T-cell activation, leading to the proliferation of effector cells and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon-gamma, which are essential for controlling the infection within host macrophages [PubMed: 25117118]. In the context of drug and vaccine development, these TCR-pMHC interactions are targeted to design epitope-based vaccines that can elicit protective immunity without the side effects associated with whole-cell vaccines [PubMed: 30104355]. Furthermore, understanding the specific TCR repertoire involved in recognizing C. burnetii is vital for developing diagnostic tools and potential adoptive T-cell therapies for chronic Q fever patients who do not respond to standard antibiotic treatments [Frontiers in Immunology, 2020].

Other names

Coxiella burnetii-specific T-cell receptorQ fever T-cell receptorC. burnetii-specific TCRAnti-Coxiella T-cell receptor

Activation of T-lymphocytes through the specific binding of the T-cell receptor to Coxiella burnetii-derived peptides presented on MHC Class I or II molecules, initiating a cellular immune response to eliminate the intracellular pathogen [PubMed: 31434714].