T cell receptor recognizing H107e-derived peptide–MHC complexes

The T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing H107e-derived peptide–MHC complexes is a critical component of the adaptive immune response induced by the H107e tuberculosis vaccine candidate. H107e is an expression-optimized fusion protein comprising eight immunodominant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens: PPE68, ESAT-6, EspI, EspC, EspA, MPT64, MPT70, and MPT83 (Woodworth et al., 2021). These antigens are processed by antigen-presenting cells and presented on the cell surface via Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and II molecules. The specific TCRs on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells recognize these peptide-MHC complexes, triggering the activation and proliferation of T cells that provide protective immunity against tuberculosis (Lahey et al., 2016). This TCR-mediated recognition is the basis for the vaccine's ability to induce a broad repertoire of Th1 and Th17 responses, which are essential for controlling Mtb infection and preventing progression to active disease. The monitoring of T cells expressing these TCRs serves as a key biomarker for vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in clinical trials, such as the Phase 1 study NCT06050356 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Other names

H107e-specific T cell receptorTCR recognizing H107e antigensH107e-specific TCR

The H107e vaccine delivers a fusion protein containing eight Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens; these are processed and presented as peptide-MHC complexes, which are recognized by specific T cell receptors, leading to the activation of protective Th1 and Th17 memory T cells.