Investigating T cell receptor reactivities towards lipid antigens from pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This project will explore the human T cell receptor molecular recognition of mycobacterial lipid antigens presented by CD1b. These lipids are unique to pathogenic mycobacterial species that cause Tuberculosis, and include cell wall mycolates and sulfoglycolipids, that induce potent anti-TB T cell immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms of recognition, and fine-tuned lipid specificities of these T cells, remain unknown. Techniques used: biochemical, biophysical, and cellular based techniques, including protein recombinant expression, kinetic binding analysis by surface plasmon resonance, and T cell activation assays by flow cytometry.