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
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
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
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
Surgery
Zachary A. Yetmar, Yogish C. Kudva, Maria Teresa Seville, Wendelyn Bosch, Patrick G. Dean, Janna L. Huskey, Pooja Budhiraja, Tambi Jarmi, Aleksandra Kukla, Elena Beam
Summary: This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of BK polyomavirus (BKV) infection in pancreas transplant recipients. The results showed that BKV DNAemia was common among pancreas transplant recipients, but lower than pancreas-kidney recipients. However, BKV DNAemia was not associated with adverse native kidney outcomes, but was associated with pancreas allograft failure.
CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
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
Pediatrics
M. Mosca, J. Bacchetta, V. Chamouard, P. Rascle, V. Dubois, S. Paul, Y. Mekki, C. Picard, A. Bertholet-Thomas, B. Ranchin, A. L. Sellier-Leclerc
Summary: BK virus-related kidney transplant dysfunction is common in pediatric patients, and reducing immunosuppression and using polyvalent immunoglobulins may be effective in managing the infection.
ARCHIVES DE PEDIATRIE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yiting Liu, Chenyang Kong, Haochong Hu, Yalong Zhang, Tianyu Wang, Tao Qiu, Jiangqiao Zhou
Summary: This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with BK viruria and BK viruria progressing to BK viremia in recipients of donation after cardiac death (DCD), with the goal of facilitating early intervention. Donor age and donor procalcitonin (PCT) levels were identified as independent risk factors for BK viruria. High BK viruria, recipient age, and immunoinduction regimen (ATG) were identified as independent risk factors for BK viruria progressing to BK viremia. Machine learning analysis confirmed the importance of high BK viruria, recipient age, and immunoinduction regimen (ATG) in predicting the progression of BK viruria to BK viremia.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ilnaz Sahragard, Ali Mohammadi, Ramin Yaghobi, Maryam Pakfetrat, Afsoon Afshari, Hassan Sharifi, Mehran Ghaemi
Summary: This study evaluated the association between viral and host gene expression and NCCR variations in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with active and inactive BKPyV infection. The results showed that increasing NCCR variations were correlated with higher viral load of BKPyV, particularly in the Q block. Host transcriptional factors and viral genes had higher expression levels in the active BKPyV group compared to the inactive group and control group. Further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between NCCR variation and BKPyV severity in KTRs.
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)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Etty Kruzel-Davila, Barbara Mensah Sankofi, Ernestine Kubi Amos-Abanyie, Anita Ghansah, Alexander Nyarko, Seth Agyemang, Gordon A. Awandare, Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen, Anat Reiner-Benaim, Basem Hijazi, Ifeoma Ulasi, Yemi Raheem Raji, Vincent Boima, Charlotte Osafo, Victoria May Adabayeri, Michael Matekole, Timothy O. Olanrewaju, Samuel Ajayi, Manmak Mamven, Sampson Antwi, Adebowale D. Ademola, Jacob Plange-Rhule, Fatiu Arogundade, Priscilla Abena Akyaw, Cheryl A. Winkler, Babatunde L. Salako, Akinlolu Ojo, Karl Skorecki, Dwomoa Adu
Summary: Variants in the APOL1 gene are associated with an increased risk of non-diabetic chronic kidney disease and HIV associated nephropathy. Carrying two APOL1 risk alleles increases the risk of these kidney diseases, as well as HIV infectivity.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kairi Pullerits, Shona Garland, Sharmilee Rengarajan, Malcolm Guiver, Rajkumar Chinnadurai, Rachel J. Middleton, Chukwuma A. Chukwu, Philip A. Kalra
Summary: This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of DNA virus infections in kidney transplant recipients and evaluate their impact on graft outcomes. The results showed that DNA viral infection is associated with a higher risk of allograft loss.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Maurizio Bruschi, Simona Granata, Giovanni Candiano, Andrea Petretto, Martina Bartolucci, Gian Marco Ghiggeri, Giovanni Stallone, Gianluigi Zaza
Summary: This study conducted a proteomics analysis of urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs) in kidney transplant patients with BK virus (BKV) infection. The results revealed that BKV infection can have a negative impact on the allograft and identified potential biomarkers associated with BKV infection. These findings provide a basis for early preventive therapeutic strategies.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olga Mineeva-Sangwo, Elisabet Van Loon, Graciela Andrei, Dirk Kuypers, Maarten Naesens, Robert Snoeck
Summary: BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a latent human DNA virus in renal tissue that can reactivate and cause polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), particularly in kidney transplant recipients. There are currently no specific antivirals for BKPyV, so reducing immunosuppression is the main treatment approach. Mutations in the major capsid protein VP1 of BKPyV can accumulate over time and lead to neutralization escape in kidney transplant recipients. A study found mutations throughout the entire BKPyV genome, including VP1, and these changes should be considered in future approaches for treating BKPyV infection in kidney transplant recipients.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Yasuhito Funahashi
Summary: Recent advances in immunosuppressive therapy have improved renal transplantation outcomes by reducing acute rejection incidence. BK virus nephropathy has emerged as a significant cause of graft dysfunction, progressing from viruria to viremia and associated nephropathy. Diagnosis of BK virus nephropathy involves histological examination and categorization of disease severity to guide treatment strategies.