Exploring TCR-Epitope Prediction Tools: Insights And Pitfalls

T cells are at the heart of the immune system's ability to distinguish between self and non-self, playing a critical role in both health and disease. The specificity of the T-cell response is mediated by the T-cell receptor (TCR), a product of the unique V(D)J recombination process, which enables interaction with a wide variety of antigens. Given the sheer scale of potential TCR-epitope interactions - stemming from both the enormous epitope and TCR repertoire diversity -- experimental validation of each TCR interaction is not feasible. This has spurred the development of TCR-epitope prediction models that aim to narrow down the search for immunogenic epitopes, thereby streamlining research and reducing costs. This webinar will delve into these predictive strategies, highlighting their importance in advancing immunological research and applications.
A range of prediction strategies, including databases, machine learning, and structure-based methods are discussed. To improve accessibility and understanding on when to implement a tool, real-life examples are used to illustrate their practical benefits. Additionally, the challenges and pitfalls associated with these tools, including the complexities of handling negative data in TCR-epitope analysis are addressed. Watch this video to unlock the potential of TCR-epitope prediction tools and gain the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate them into your own research.
Speakers:
Dr. Kerry Mullan, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Vincent Van Deuren, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Romi Vandoren, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Speaker bios:
Dr. Kerry Mullan is a post-doc undertaking a post-doctoral fellowship (CZI funding) in which she is currently developing STEGO.R, an application to aid in the analysis of single cell RNA-seq with single cells T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. Romi Vandoren’s research is centered around the development of novel bioinformatic tools to unravel the TCR-microbiome interaction network in the gut and provide insights into microbial-driven immune modulation. Vincent Van Deuren is dedicated to uncovering the TCR repertoire across various forms of autoimmune arthritis, with a particular focus on pediatric Lyme arthritis, where diagnostics and treatments are currently inadequate. All three researchers are working under the supervision of Prof. Pieter Meysman, Prof. Kris Laukens, and Prof. Benson Ogunjimi at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.