A multidimensional workflow profiling of allogeneic virus-specific T cell therapies reveals potency-linked signatures
Allogeneic virus-specific T cell (VST) therapies offer distinct advantages, including scalability, rapid deployment, and manufacturing consistency, and have demonstrated efficacy in multiple clinical trials. However, identifying VST products with high therapeutic potential remains a major hurdle. Here, we present a multidimensional analytical platform that integrates in vitro and in vivo anti-viral reactivity, T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis, gene expression profiling, immunophenotyping, and functional validation in a humanized mouse model. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cells expanded from HLA-diverse healthy donors consistently enriched for TCRs targeting EBV-encoded antigens. Transcriptomic and high-dimensional flow cytometric analyses revealed a distinct effector-associated signature. Importantly, this integrative approach uncovered correlative biomarkers of T cell potency and effector function, validated in an in vivo model of EBV-driven B cell lymphoma. These findings establish a scalable framework for the characterization of allogeneic T cell products and may inform the development of predictive metrics for in vivo efficacy.
Authors
- Leone Beagley
- Pauline Crooks
- George Ambalathingal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4270-4423)
- Sweera Rehan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8044-7632)
- Corey Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7550-9595)
- Sriganesh Srihari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0713-6723)
- Arushi Mahajan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6948-0689)
- Matthew D. Solomon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7846-9296)
- Pamela Mukhopadhyay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5905-1350)
- Vijayendra Dasari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2106-0945)
- Archana Panikkar
- Panteha Khaledi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1983-3851)
- Laëtitia Le Texier
- Jyothy Raju
- Thuy Le
- Rajiv Khanna
Institutions
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-01-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67924-w
- Primary Topic
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Atara Biotherapeutics