Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, have developed a new approach using the artificial intelligence platform AlphaFold 3 to predict whether a T cell receptor will recognize a specific antigen based solely on its genetic sequence. The advancement could help scientists more rapidly decode immune responses to infectious diseases, tumors and other health threats.

Published in Science Advances, the study demonstrates how AlphaFold 3 can accurately model a complex three-part molecular interaction that lies at the center of the body’s adaptive immune response. By revealing how these molecules fit together, the approach may help researchers better predict which immune cells can recognize and respond to specific pathogens or cancer targets.