Biology of the BKPyV: An Update

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2017 Nov 4

PMID 29099746

Citations 40

Authors

Francois Helle

Etienne Brochot

Lynda Handala

Elodie Martin

Sandrine Castelain

Catherine Francois

Gilles Duverlie

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The BK virus (BKPyV) is a member of the family first isolated in 1971. BKPyV causes frequent infections during childhood and establishes persistent infections with minimal clinical implications within renal tubular cells and the urothelium. However, reactivation of BKPyV in immunocompromised individuals may cause serious complications. In particular, with the implementation of more potent immunosuppressive drugs in the last decade, BKPyV has become an emerging pathogen in kidney and bone marrow transplant recipients where it often causes associated nephropathy and haemorrhagic cystitis, respectively. Unfortunately, no specific antiviral against BKPyV has been approved yet and the only therapeutic option is a modulation of the immunosuppressive drug regimen to improve immune control though it may increase the risk of rejection. A better understanding of the BKPyV life cycle is thus needed to develop efficient treatment against this virus. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in understanding the biology of BKPyV.

Citing Articles

Ribosomal protein S25 promotes cell cycle entry for a productive BK polyomavirus infection.

Needham J, Greco T, Cristea I, Thompson S Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025; 380(1921):20230390.

PMID: 40045781 PMC: 11883431. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0390.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibits the Replication of Patient-Derived Archetype BK Polyomavirus While Activating Rearranged Strains.

Lauterbach-Riviere L, Thuringer L, Feld P, Toews L, Schussler J, Klinz J J Med Virol. 2025; 97(2):e70210.

PMID: 39949253 PMC: 11826303. DOI: 10.1002/jmv.70210.

Target-specific peptides for BK virus agnoprotein identified through phage display screening: advancing antiviral therapeutics.

Xing X, Han J, Wang K, Tian F, Jiang C, Liang W Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):2718.

PMID: 39837922 PMC: 11750963. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86439-4.

The impact of FDA-cleared molecular solutions for BK polyomavirus quantitation.

Parikh B, Anderson N J Clin Microbiol. 2025; 63(3):e0034824.

PMID: 39818950 PMC: 11898770. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00348-24.

Single-cell analysis reveals host S phase drives large T antigen expression during BK polyomavirus infection.

Needham J, Perritt S, Thompson S PLoS Pathog. 2024; 20(12):e1012663.

PMID: 39636788 PMC: 11620372. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012663.

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