Title : Pathogen-derived noncanonical epitopes: Are they valuable targets for novel vaccinations?

MHC class I complexes can present antigenic peptides that derive from canonical proteins as well as have a sequence produced by post-translational mechanisms such as proteasome-generated peptide splicing. Few pathogen-derived proteasome-generated spliced epitopes have been investigated for their immunogenicity so far. We developed several pipelines to identify and predict both canonical and noncanonical epitopes derived from pathogens, which are freely available. In addition, we tested the immunogenicity and the potential for therapeutical applications for those associated to various forms of infections. During my lecture I review the work done my team and others on the identification of pathogen-derived noncanonical epitopes, I discuss the risk of autoimmune response triggered by them and their potential relevance for future development on vaccines.

Dr Meghna Phanichkrivalkosil BSc, MSc, MRes, PhD is a postdoctoral researcher at the Francis Crick Institute. Her area of research focuses on identification of noncanonical peptides in cancer and infection, and validation of their antigenicity and immunogenicity. Meghna has contributed to numerous studies on the Antigen Processing and Presentation Pathway, peptide-TCR binding, as well as on diagnostics of infectious disease.