Jeffrey Y. W. Mak

TL;DR: It is shown that MAIT-cell activation requires key genes encoding enzymes that form 5-amino-6-d-ribitylaminouracil (5-A-RU), an early intermediate in bacterial riboflavin synthesis, and MR1 is able to capture, stabilize and present chemically unstable pyrimidine intermediates, which otherwise convert to lumazines, as potent antigens to MAIT cells.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that MR1 was able to capture chemically diverse structures, spanning mono- and bicyclic compounds, that either inhibited or activated MAIT cells, indicating that drugs and drug-like molecules can modulate MAIT cell function in mammals.

TL;DR: It is shown that mouse Legionellalongbeachae infection induces MR1-dependent MAIT cell activation and rapid pulmonary accumulation of MAIT cells associated with immune protection detectable in immunocompetent host animals, which indicates a potential role for vaccination to enhanceMAIT cell immunity.

TL;DR: The understanding of how novel antigens are generated is reviewed and their interactions with MR1 and MAIT TCRs are discussed.

TL;DR: In this paper, a water-stable synthetic antigens (EC50 2'nM) was proposed to detect and activate mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells.