%0 Journal Article
%T Detection of BK virus in urine from renal transplant subjects by mass spectrometry
%A Rebecca Konietzny
%A Roman Fischer
%A Nicola Ternette
%A Cynthia A Wright
%A Ben W Turney
%A Aron Chakera
%A David Hughes
%A Benedikt M Kessler
%A Chris W Pugh
%J Clinical Proteomics
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1559-0275-9-4
%X Here we describe a mass spectrometry (MS)-based method for the detection of BKV derived proteins directly isolated from clinical urine samples. Peptides detected by MS derived from Viral Protein 1 (VP1) allowed differentiation between subtypes I and IV. Using this approach, we observed an association between higher decoy cell numbers and the presence of the VP1 subtype Ib-2 in urine samples derived from a cohort of 20 renal transplant recipients, consistent with the hypothesis that certain viral subtypes may be associated with more severe BKVAN.This is the first study to identify BK virus proteins in clinical samples by MS and that this approach makes it possible to distinguish between different viral subtypes. Further studies are required to establish whether this information could lead to stratification of patients at risk of BKVAN, facilitate distinction between BKVAN and acute rejection (AR), and ultimately improve patient treatment and outcomes.BK virus, a member of the polyomavirus family, infects the majority of the population during childhood [1]. In most cases infection is asymptomatic; however, BKV persists in the urothelial tract with intermittent reactivation occurring throughout life [2,3]. In the presence of immunosuppression sustained viral replication may occur due to escape of the endogenous virus from immune control or in renal transplant recipients through co-infection with virus of donor origin [4,5]. If viral replication remains uncontrolled, lytic destruction of infected cells occurs, eventually disturbing kidney function, and resulting in the characteristic biopsy appearances of BK-virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) [6]. Distinguishing between acute rejection and BKVAN is important, because although the histological appearances may be similar, graft rejection necessitates increased immunosuppression, whereas control of BK viral replication requires immunosuppression reduction. Overall, improving the subject¡¯s clinical status requires care in
%K BK virus
%K Urine proteomics
%K Mass spectrometry
%K Renal transplant
%K Decoy cells
%U http://www.clinicalproteomicsjournal.com/content/9/1/4