T cell receptor recognizing HIVACAT T-cell immunogen-derived peptides (TCR-HTI)

The T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing HIVACAT T-cell immunogen (HTI)-derived peptides is a specialized immune receptor found on CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that plays a central role in the cellular immune response against HIV-1. These TCRs are characterized by their ability to recognize 16 highly conserved regions of the HIV-1 genome, which were selected based on their association with natural viral control in elite controllers (Mothe et al., 2011). When these HTI-derived peptides are presented by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I molecules on the surface of infected cells, the TCR binds to the complex, triggering the T cell to release cytotoxic granules and eliminate the infected cell. Therapeutic vaccines, such as the AELIX HTI series including DNA.HTI, MVA.HTI, and ChAdOx1.HTI, are designed to expand the population of T cells bearing these specific TCRs to achieve a functional cure for HIV (Nature Medicine, 2022). In clinical trials like AELIX-002 and AELIX-003, the magnitude of the T-cell response mediated by these TCRs has been shown to correlate with a prolonged delay in viral rebound during analytical treatment interruptions (Nature Communications, 2025). By targeting conserved viral segments, these TCRs are intended to provide a robust defense that is less susceptible to the rapid mutational escape typically seen in HIV-1 infection.

Other names

HTI-specific T-cell receptorHIVACAT T-cell immunogen-specific TCRTCR recognizing HTI peptides

Therapeutic vaccination delivers the HTI immunogen to antigen-presenting cells, which process and present HTI-derived peptides on MHC Class I molecules to induce the activation and clonal expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells.