BK virus cites of the family of human polyoma viruses that was first discovered from the urine of the kidney transplant patient in 1971. At our company, we are committed to advancing the development of vaccines and therapies for BK virus infection.
Overview of BK Virus Infection
BK virus (BKV), originating from the family Polyomabiruses, also poses a risk for individuals with weakened immune system. Primarily, kidney transplant patients are impacted. It is non enveloped virus, consists of a circular double stranded dna and persists within uroepithelium and renal tubular epithelial cells for a long time. BKV can manifest in various forms like BKV associated nephropathy (BKVAN) and urine tract infections, that can result in loss of allograft, after activation, that mostly happens during immunosuppressant therapy, but can happen otherwise as well.
Fig.1 Immunological strategies for studying BK virus. (Kesherwani V., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for BK Virus Infection
There has been considerable research aimed at developing vaccines that target the BKV virus. There has been considerable research aimed at developing vaccines that target the BKV virus, with the goal of specifically reducing the reactivation of the virus. Numerous methods have been tried:
These vaccines are formulated with particularly potent viral proteins or peptides which have the capacity of inducing an immune response. These therapies are used after an immunodominant epitope has been identified from the BKV for both humoral and cellular responses.
With the advancement in coding specific BKV antigens through mRNA technology, these vaccines shows excellence in inducing a strong cell immune response along with their quick turnaround time.
Virus-like particle vaccines (VLP) replicate a virus's architecture but lack any nucleic acid, making them a secure method to elicit an immune reaction. They are particularly appealing for their capacity to trigger extensive and enduring defense mechanisms.
Therapeutics Development for BK Virus Infection
There is now an emphasis on direct viral targeting and biological manipulation of the host for the prevention and treatment of BKV infection. There are a number of different ways .
- Antiviral Agents: Cidofovir, a nucleotide analogue, has shown activity against BKV in cells in vitro. Its use on the other hand is prohibited in practice on account of nephrotoxicity. Work is active to develop new agents with better tolerability and effectiveness.
- Immunomodulatory Therapies: Leflunomide is already an anticancer agent and has been studied as an attempt to inhibit BKVAN by lowering the viral load. Its usefulness is still at the investigation stage.
- Adoptive Transfer of Virus-Specific T Cells: One of the recent therapeutic approaches is the infusion of T cells specific to BKV because they are able to destroy T cells infected with the virus.
Table 1 Therapeutic research on BK infection. (Gorriceta J. H., et al., 2023)
|
Therapeutics |
Study Type |
Subjects |
Key findings (include P value if available) |
Period |
| Alterations in immunosuppression |
Retrospective, single-center study |
24 kidney transplant recipients: 8 with BK viremia; 16 with BKVAN |
Decreased immunosuppression alone leads to the elimination of BK viremia, resulting in favorable long-term outcomes. |
Sept 2001-Dec 2003 |
| Leflunomide |
Retrospective, single-center study |
76 kidney transplant recipients with BK viremia with or without BKVAN; 24 did not receive leflunomide; 52 received leflunomide |
There was no variance observed in BK viral clearance. Upon conducting multivariate analysis, it was revealed that discontinuing mycophenolate mofetil, experiencing BK viremia without nephropathy, and the average BK viral load were notably linked to BK viral clearance. Conversely, the use of leflunomide did not exhibit this correlation. |
Jun 2001-Dec 2009 |
| Fluoroquinolones |
Retrospective analysis |
185 adult kidney transplant recipients; 160 did not receive a fluoroquinolone; 25 received a 30-d course of ciprofloxacin |
A greater incidence of BK viremia was observed among individuals who did not undergo a one-month regimen of levofloxacin, with 36 individuals (22.5%) affected compared to only 1 individual (4%) who received levofloxacin; the difference was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.03. |
Jan 2004-Dec 2008 |
Our Services
By investing in innovative research and collaborative initiatives, we aim to provide a comprehensive suite of services aimed at developing vaccines and therapeutics to address BK virus infection.
Disease Models
- Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): BKV Gardner strain or SV40 777 strain
- Rhesus Macaques: SV40
- Owl Monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus): JCV, BKV, and SV40
Utilizing various animal models, we investigate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of novel therapeutic agents, ensuring that they exhibit favorable profiles before advancing to clinical trials. In addition, we conduct rigorous in vitro assays to assess the immunogenic properties of vaccine candidates and evaluate their antiviral efficacy against the BK virus. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Kesherwani, Varun, and Shikha Tarang. "An immunoinformatic approach to universal therapeutic vaccine design against BK virus." Vaccine 37.26 (2019): 3457-3463.
- Gorriceta, June Hayrelle, et al. "BK viral infection: A review of management and treatment." World Journal of Transplantation 13.6 (2023): 309.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
