Review
Virology
Sam Kant, Alana Dasgupta, Serena Bagnasco, Daniel C. Brennan
Summary: BK virus is a latent infection prevalent in humans, particularly in kidney transplant recipients due to dysfunctional cellular immune response. Screening for the virus has been effective in preventing nephropathy and graft loss, but diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. This in-depth review covers the virus's history, virology, epidemiology, cellular response, pathogenesis, screening and diagnostic methods, evidence-based treatment strategies, upcoming therapeutics, and the issue of re-transplantation in patients.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hyunjoo Bae, Do Hyun Na, Ji-Yeun Chang, Ki Hyun Park, Ji Won Min, Eun Jeong Ko, Hyeyoung Lee, Chul Woo Yang, Byung Ha Chung, Eun-Jee Oh
Summary: The BKV-specific T cell immunity measured by an interferon-. enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay can predict the outcome of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients, helping to predict virus clearance and the development of BK virus-associated nephropathy.
KOREAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jian Zhang, Hao Qin, Mingyu Chang, Yang Yang, Jun Lin
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota in BK polyomavirus-infected renal transplant recipients and establish a prediction model for posttransplant BK polyomavirus infection based on the gut microbiota. The results showed that BK polyomavirus-infected patients had gut microbiota dysbiosis with an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Nine distinguishing bacterial taxa were identified as potential biomarkers of BK polyomavirus infection. The random forest model achieved a high accuracy in predicting the infectious status.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Evert Cleenders, Priyanka Koshy, Elisabet Van Loon, Katrien Lagrou, Kurt Beuselinck, Graciela Andrei, Marta Crespo, Katrien De Vusser, Dirk Kuypers, Evelyne Lerut, Kris Mertens, Olga Mineeva-Sangwo, Parmjeet Randhawa, Aleksandar Senev, Robert Snoeck, Ben Sprangers, Claire Tinel, Amaryllis Van Craenenbroeck, Jan van den Brand, Marc Van Ranst, Geert Verbeke, Maarten Coemans, Maarten Naesens
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the value of performing a biopsy at the time of BKPyV-DNAemia in distinguishing presumptive and proven PyVAN. The results showed that plasma viral load had good predictive value for SV40 positivity, while the dichotomy of SV40 immunohistochemistry did not predict viral clearance. Therefore, the distinction between presumptive and proven PyVAN based on SV40 immunohistochemistry has limited clinical value.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Waseem Albasha, Golnaz Vahdani, Ankita Ashoka, Erika Bracamonte, Amy A. Yau
Summary: BK virus nephropathy, classically described in renal allografts, is increasingly recognized in native kidneys of non-renal solid organ transplants. This article discusses a 68-year-old woman with a history of bilateral lung transplant who was diagnosed with BK virus nephropathy. Despite treatment with reduced immunosuppression and intravenous cidofovir, the patient's clinical parameters did not improve. The challenges of screening and management in lung transplant recipients with polyoma virus nephropathy are also reviewed.
CLINICAL KIDNEY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Su Woong Jung, Won-Hee Cho, Jung-Woo Seo, Yang-Gyun Kim, Ju-Young Moon, Jin Sug Kim, Chan-Duck Kim, Byung Ha Chung, Jae Berm Park, Yeong Hoon Kim, Sang-Ho Lee
Summary: Urine exosomal bkv-miR-B1-5p is associated with BK virus nephropathy and may serve as a predictive marker during the early posttransplant period.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Kaitlin Nguyen, Adam Diamond, Antonio Di Carlo, Sunil Karhadkar
Summary: Retransplantation following BKVN-associated graft failure has been associated with favorable outcomes, and to maximize allograft lifespan in retransplantation, clinicians may consider selection of low KDPI donors, prevention of delayed graft function, and tailored immunosuppressive regimens that minimize steroids.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Haris Omic, Johannes Phillip Klaeger, Harald Herkner, Stephan W. Aberle, Heinz Regele, Lukas Weseslindtner, Tarek Arno Schrag, Gregor Bond, Katharina Hohenstein, Bruno Watschinger, Johannes Werzowa, Robert Strassl, Michael Eder, Zeljko Kikic
Summary: This study shows that the decrease in absolute BK viral load is an independent risk factor for graft loss, indicating its importance in predicting short-term graft survival.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Margherita Borriello, Diego Ingrosso, Alessandra Fortunata Perna, Angela Lombardi, Paolo Maggi, Lucia Altucci, Michele Caraglia
Summary: Poliomavirus BK virus (BKV) is a highly infective virus that can cause asymptomatic infections. In renal transplanted recipients, BKV can lead to severe complications. Current treatments and prophylaxis options are limited, but increasing surveillance and early diagnosis show promise in improving outcomes.
Article
Immunology
Hannah Imlay, Paul Baum, Daniel C. Brennan, Kimberly E. Hanson, Michael R. Hodges, Aimee C. Hodowanec, Takashi E. Komatsu, Per Ljungman, Veronica Miller, Yoichiro Natori, Volker Nickeleit, Jules O'Rear, Andreas Pikis, Parmjeet S. Randhawa, Deirdre Sawinski, Harsharan K. Singh, Gabriel Westman, Ajit P. Limaye
Summary: BK polyomavirus infection and nephropathy are significant complications in renal transplant recipients. However, the lack of standardized outcome measures hampers clinical trials. To address this, experts have developed definitions of BK polyomavirus infection and disease, providing a framework for clinical research and drug development.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
M. Alonso, F. Villanego, C. Orellana, L. A. Vigara, N. Montiel, A. Aguilera, J. M. Amaro, T. Garcia, A. Mazuecos
Summary: BK polyomavirus infection has a significant impact on kidney transplant, with high-level BK viremia associated with poorer graft survival. In addition, the occurrence of acute rejection is more frequent in patients with BKVi.
TRANSPLANTATION PROCEEDINGS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Baptiste Demey, Veronique Descamps, Claire Presne, Francois Helle, Catherine Francois, Gilles Duverlie, Sandrine Castelain, Etienne Brochot
Summary: In this study, the levels of bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p in urine were found to be potentially valuable markers for monitoring viral replication in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), which could help prevent excessive reduction in immunosuppressive therapy. The study also observed a progressive reduction in BKPyV DNA load and subsequent disappearance of microRNAs in some KTRs with sustained BKPyV infection, while stability was seen in others over the first year post-transplantation.
Article
Virology
Yi-Jung Li, Hsin-Hsu Wu, Cheng-Hsu Chen, Hsu-Han Wang, Yang-Jen Chiang, Hsiang-Hao Hsu, See-Tong Pang, Robert Y. L. Wang, Ya-Chung Tian
Summary: The study demonstrates that BKPyVAN patients have increased risk of allograft losses, higher incidence of UTC, lower cancer-free survival rate, and earlier onset of UTC compared to non-BKPyVAN patients.
Article
Transplantation
Begum Avci, Esra Baskin, Kaan Gulleroglu, Zafer Ecevit, Ebru Ayvazoglu Soy, Gokhan Moray, Mehmet Haberal
Summary: BK polyomavirus infection has a certain frequency in pediatric kidney transplant patients, but it is not significantly correlated with factors such as sex and age. Early detection and treatment are key in preventing graft loss.
EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ngoc-Khanh Nguyen, Marie -Claire Devilder, Laetitia Gautreau-Rolland, Cynthia Fourgeux, Debajyoti Sinha, Jeremie Poschmann, Maryvonne Hourmant, Celine Bressollette-Bodin, Xavier Saulquin, Dorian McIlroy
Summary: The BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a pathogen that causes significant morbidity in immunosuppressed individuals. This study identified broadly neutralizing antibodies against BKPyV and found a highly diverse BKPyV-specific repertoire of B cells with extensive somatic hypermutation. The study also identified three broadly neutralizing clonotypes that predominantly used IgG, indicating preferential targeting of specific BKPyV capsid epitopes by IgG.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
