These OT-I mice contain transgenic inserts for mouse Tcra-V2 and Tcrb-V5 genes. The transgenic T cell receptor was designed to recognize ovalbumin residues 257-264 in the context of H2Kb and used to study the role of peptides in positive selection and the response of CD8+ T cells to antigen. Like most TCR transgenics, these mice are somewhat immunodeficient.

These mice contain transgenic inserts for mouse Tcra-V2 and Tcrb-V5 genes. The transgenic T cell receptor was designed to recognize ovalbumin peptide residues 257-264 (OVA257-264) in the context of H2Kb (CD8 co-receptor interaction with MHC class I). This results in MHC class I-restricted, ovalbumin-specific, CD8+ T cells (OT-I cells). That is, the CD8 T cells of this mouse primarily recognize OVA257-264 when presented by the MHC I molecule. Immune response dynamics can be studied by in vivo adoptive transfer or in vitro co-culture with cells transgenic for ovalbumin or by direct administration of ovalbumin. These mice are often used to study CD8+ T cell response to antigen, positive selection, and in any research requiring CD8+ T cells of defined specificity. Like most TCR transgenics, these mice are somewhat immunodeficient.