Nerdy Science Blog

I just pick a topic for my immunology 1500 words assignment.

Cross-presentation of antigens by MHC class I molecules

Cross-presentation of exogenous proteins on MHC class I molecules contributes to the priming of CD8+ T-cell responses.  Describe evidence for the importance of this mechanism for antigen presentation in the response to viral antigens and experiments designed to determine the intracellular routes involved in cross-presentation.  Discuss how understanding the molecular and cellular basis of cross-presentation might lead to improved vaccine design.

I break the topic down into three parts:

1. Describe the evidence for the important of the mechanism for antigen presentation in the response to viral antigens.
2. Describe experiments designed to determine the intracellular routes involved in cross-presentation.
3. Discuss how understanding the molecular and cellular basis of cross-presentation might lead to improved vaccine design.

I don’t know much about cross-presentation.  I guess this is the hardest topic among all (that’s what my friends told me).