Characteristics of the Deep Learning Model and the Training and Evaluation Datasets for Prediction of HLA-I Epitopes. Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2025). Doi: 10.1038/S42256-024-00971-Y
A collaboration between the ragon institute and the jamel clinic at mit has achieved a significant milstone in Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Aid the Development of T Cell Vaccine Candidates.
Ragon Faculty Member Gaurav Gaiha, MD, Dphil, and Mit Professor Regina Barzilay, Ph.D.D., AI Lead of the jamel clinic for Ai and Health, Have Published Research in Nature Machine Intelligence Introducing Munis – A Deep Learning tool Designed to Predict CD8, T cell epitopes with unprecedened accuracy. This advancement has been the potential to accelerate Vaccine Development Against Various Infectious Diseases.
The project marks a major first outcome from the mark and lisa schwartz ai/ml initiative at the ragon institute, which aims to integrate artificial intelligence, Machine learning, and tranational mmunology And cure infectious diseases of global importance.
By Combining The Gaiha Lab’s Expertise in T Cell Immunology With the Barzilay Lab’s Pioneering Work in Ai, The Team-LED by Co-FIRST AUTHORS JEREMY WHLWEND, Ph.D., and Anusha Nathan, PH.D. s a longstanding Challenge in Vaccine Development: The Rapid and Accurate Identification of T Cell Epitopes in Foreign Pathogens. Epitopes are specific regions of an antigen that are recognized by the body’s immune cells and are critical for activating targeted immune responses.
Traditional methods for predicting epitopes often fall short in speed and accuracy. By Integrating Machine Learning, Researchers Can Now Achieve Faster and More Efficient Identification of T Cell Epitopes.
Using a Curated Dataset of Over 650,000 Unique Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands and cutting-edge ai architectures, Munis significantly outperformed existing Epitopication models. The tool was validated using experimental data from Influenza, HIV, and Epstein-Barrr Virus (EBV) and was already to identify novel immunogenic epitopes in ebv, a virus that has been done extended.
Remarkably, Munis Achieved Accuracy Comparable to Experimental Stability Assays, Another Form of Epitope Prediction, Demonstruating Its potential to Reduce Laboratory Burdens and Streaming Vaccine Design.
“This is our first paper at the interaction of ai and immunology. Gorithms to model the intricacies of the Immune System, “Barzilay said.
A key factor in the development of munis was the collaboration between immunologists and computer scientists. The partnership leveraged the unique skills and expertise of each team, ensuring the tool’s effectiveness in addressing biological complexities.
“This is a wonderful application of artificial intelligence that benefited green from insights shared by both computer scientists and immunologists,” Gaiha Said. “The credit lies with the initiative for brings us togethr, which has led to the creation of an exciting new tool for immunology and vaccine design.”
The implications of this breakthrough extended beyond vaccine research. By providing a reliable method to predict which immunodominant epitopes are that most easily recognized by the immune system, Munis Lays the Foundation for Applications in Cancer T. Research. As the Global Community Continues to Confort Emerging Infectial Diseases, Tools Like Munis offer promise for enhanced preparedness.
This innovation underscores the ragon institute’s commission to advance science at the interaction of immunology and technology to save lives and promoted global health.
More information:
Jeremy Wohlwend et al, Deep Learning Enhances The Prediction of Hla Class I-PRESENTED CD8+ T Cell Epitopes in Foreign Pathogens, Nature Machine Intelligence (2025). Doi: 10.1038/S42256-024-00971-Y
Provided by Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard
Citation: AI Advancement in T Cell Epitope Prediction Could Propel Vaccine Development (2025, January 28) Retrieved 29 January 2025 from
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