T-cell receptor recognizing FMP012-derived peptide–MHC class I complexes (TCR-FMP012-pMHC-I)

The T-cell receptor (TCR) on CD8+ T lymphocytes recognizing FMP012-derived peptide–MHC class I complexes is a specialized immune receptor essential for the recognition and elimination of malaria-infected cells. FMP012 is a recombinant protein vaccine candidate derived from the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of malaria (Regules et al., 2011, PMID: 21146630). When the vaccine is administered, CSP-derived peptides are processed and presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules on the surface of host cells, particularly hepatocytes. CD8+ T cells expressing these specific TCRs bind to the peptide-MHC complex, initiating a cytotoxic response that destroys the infected cell before the parasite can enter the bloodstream (White et al., 2015, PMID: 26115657). This TCR-mediated recognition is a primary target for subunit vaccines aiming to induce sterile immunity against the pre-erythrocytic stage of the malaria life cycle. Understanding the structural basis of this interaction is crucial for designing next-generation vaccines that can elicit more potent and broadly reactive T-cell responses (UniProt P13828).

Other names

Circumsporozoite protein-specific T-cell receptorCSP-specific TCRMalaria-specific CD8+ T-cell receptorFMP012-specific T-cell receptor

Activation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells through TCR binding to vaccine-derived peptides presented on MHC-I, leading to the lysis of malaria-infected hepatocytes.