{
  "abstract": "This study presents the discovery and first functional characterization of chicken lipid-reactive Natural Killer T (NKT)-like cells, resolving a long-standing knowledge gap in avian immunology. Using purified TCRVβ2⁺ lymphocytes, we demonstrate through rigorous experiments combining shRNA-mediated gene silencing, pharmacological pathway blockade, primary MACS-purified co-cultures, and intracellular cytokine flow cytometry that these cells are activated by CpG-ODN-stimulated antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Activation selectively depends on APC-driven glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis, with CpG-ODN significantly upregulating key biosynthetic enzymes (ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL5) in APCs. Silencing of enzymes involved in this pathway or chemical inhibition of GSL synthesis abrogated T cell activation. We identify GM3 as a potent, functional lipid ligand activating TCRVβ2⁺ lymphocytes. In parallel, IL-12 and IL-18 trigger IFN-γ production from TCRVβ2⁺ lymphocytes, crucially requiring live APC interactions. Upon activation of splenocytes with GM3, the cells expressed chIL-2, chIL-4, chIL-17, Granzyme A, and Perforin. By establishing functional, nonpeptide lipid-reactive T cells in chickens, these findings redefine the conceptual framework of avian innate-like T cell immunology. This discovery unlocks a highly translatable, universal target for lipid-adjuvanted poultry vaccines to enhance global animal health and food security.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, UK.",
    "Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nitin Kamble"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Faisal R Anjum"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shahriar Behboudi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0e7gb5t00gafe.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1002/eji.70302",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13669416",
  "id": "0e7gb5t00gafe",
  "issns": [
    "0014-2980",
    "1521-4141"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42875959",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|T-cell and B-cell Immunology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222195303",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13669416?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13669416",
  "pmid": "42875959",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0e7gb5t00gafe.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:00Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42875959",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42875959"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|T-cell and B-cell Immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Discovery of Avian TCRVβ2⁺ T Cells Recognizing the Endogenous Ganglioside via a chCD1.1-Dependent Pathway.",
  "title_text": "Discovery of Avian TCRVβ2⁺ T Cells Recognizing the Endogenous Ganglioside via a chCD1.1-Dependent Pathway.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:00Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0e7gb5t00gafe",
  "venue": "European journal of immunology",
  "versions": []
}