@article{Li2026, 
author = {Xueqing Li and Tianqi Teng and Yingyi Chen and Zhuohang Li and Jiangwu Huang and Tao Zhang and Irene Ogali and Manman Dai},
title = {Unveiling the dominant peptides recognized by chicken TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells against avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) infection in B21 haplotype chickens},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Integrative Agriculture (JIA)},
volume = {25},
number = {10},
pages = {3990-4001},
keywords = {MHC B21 haplotype chickens, ALV-J, TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells, chicken T cell culture, peptides},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.jia.2026.07.010},
doi = {10.1016/j.jia.2026.07.010},
abstract = {TCRγδ T cells are a major lymphocyte population in chickens, but their response to ALV-J and recognized antigens remains poorly understood. Here, we report an increase in the proportion and activation state of TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells in vivo and in vitro cultured T cells from 2 chicken lines (MHC homozygous H-B21 lines and outbred G-WL line), with the earlier and stronger proliferative response observed in the H-B21 chickens. Activated TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells exhibited ‘cytolytic’ potential, as detected by transcription levels of cytotoxic genes using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and IFN-γ protein levels using ELISPOT and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays, with a more significant response in the H-B21 chickens. Furthermore, the viral structural proteins Gag and Pol were identified as major target proteins recognized by chicken TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells. Further ELISPOT and ICS analyses mapped the key peptides to Gag187–215 and Pol417–445 recognized by chicken TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells against ALV-J infection. Collectively, these findings confirm for the first time that TCRγδ+CD8α+ T cells can recognize viral antigens and reveal the dominant peptides on ALV-J, enhancing our understanding of anti-ALV-J T cell responses and advancing vaccine design strategies against ALV-J.}
}