Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Analysis of HBV-Specific CD4 T-cell Responses and Identification of HLA-DR-Restricted CD4 T-Cell Epitopes Based on a Peptide Matrix
Published on: October 20, 2021
Limited Antimycobacterial Efficacy of Epitope Peptide Administration Despite Enhanced Antigen-Specific CD4 T-Cell
Joel D Ernst1,2,3, Amber Cornelius1, Ludovic Desvignes1
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine University School of Medicine, New York.
Background:
Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with inconsistent and incomplete elimination of the bacteria, despite development of antigen-specific T-cell responses. One mechanism used by M tuberculosis is to limit availability of antigen for activation of CD4 T cells.
Methods:
We examined the utility of systemic administration of epitope peptides to activate pre-existing T cells in mice infected with M tuberculosis.
Results:
We found that systemic peptide administration (1) selectively activates T cells specific for the epitope peptide, (2) loads major histocompatibility complex class II on lung macrophages and dendritic cells, (3) activates CD4 T cells in the lung parenchyma, (4) and has little antimycobacterial activity.
Conclusions:
Further studies revealed that CD4 T cells in lung lesions are distant from the infected cells, suggesting that, even if they can be activated, the positioning of CD4 T cells and their direct interactions with infected cells may be limiting determinants of immunity in tuberculosis.
Related Concept Videos
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
Limiting Reactant
Peptide Bonds
Self-Efficacy
The Number e as a Limit
Cell Specific Gene Expression

