How CD8 T cells use tiny forces to recognize infected cells
Ligand-Dependent [alpha][beta]TCR Function
Researchers look at how a type of immune cell (CD8 T cells) uses very small mechanical forces to find virus-infected cells, which could help people with flu and other infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11253691 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project pairs precision physics tools with cell and tissue analysis to see how individual T cell receptors behave when they bind targets. Scientists will use optical tweezers and single-molecule measurements alongside single-cell RNA sequencing and paired TCR sequencing to study influenza-specific CD8 T cells in lymph nodes and lungs. They will compare high-performing T cells that detect very few target molecules to others to learn what features make T cells sensitive and long-lived. The goal is to link molecular and structural behavior of TCRs to how T cells act in real tissues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had influenza or healthy volunteers willing to donate blood or tissue samples for studying influenza-specific CD8 T cells would be most relevant for participation.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions unrelated to T cell immunity are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform vaccines or T cell therapies that make immune cells detect infections or tumors more reliably.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-molecule and TCR sequencing studies have revealed important principles of T cell recognition, but combining optical tweezers with spatial transcriptomics in tissues is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lang, Matthew J. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Lang, Matthew J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.