title: BK Polyomavirus: Clinical Aspects, Immune Regulation, and Emerging Therapies.
abstract: BK polyomavirus (BKV) causes frequent infections during childhood and establishes persistent infections within renal tubular cells and the uroepithelium, with minimal clinical implications. However, reactivation of BKV in immunocompromised individuals following renal or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may cause serious complications, including BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN), ureteric stenosis, or hemorrhagic cystitis. Implementation of more potent immunosuppression and increased posttransplant surveillance has resulted in a higher incidence of BKVAN. Antiviral immunity plays a crucial role in controlling BKV replication, and our increasing knowledge about host-virus interactions has led to the development of improved diagnostic tools and clinical management strategies. Currently, there are no effective antiviral agents for BKV infection, and the mainstay of managing reactivation is reduction of immunosuppression. Development of immune-based therapies to combat BKV may provide new and exciting opportunities for the successful treatment of BKV-associated complications.
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ambalathingal
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.|Immunology in Cancer and Infection Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development, Tumour Immunology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia rajiv.khanna@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: B cell responses; T cell immunity; T cells; immunotherapy; natural killer cells; pathogenesis; transplant; virus