Study of the Serotype and Genotype of BK Virus in Kidney Transplant Recipients and Their Donors to Identify Individuals at Risk of Nephropathy (TYPIK)

The aim of this observational study is to characterize the urinary replication of BK polyomavirus (BKV) in kidney transplant recipients. Although BKV reactivation after transplantation is well established, the origin of the replicating virus remains uncertain. Current evidence suggests that BKV detected in recipients may originate either from the transplanted kidney (donor-derived) or from viral reactivation in the recipient. The evaluation of new biomarkers to predict BKV replication are needed.

This study seeks to address the following key questions:

• Origin of the replicating virus: Is the BKV detected in the recipient identical to the virus originating from the donor kidney?
• Host immune response and viral genotype: Is there an association between the recipient's immune response and the genotype of the replicating BKV?
• Differences in immune response according to viral replication profile: Does the immune response differ between patients presenting isolated BKV viruria and those with both viruria and viremia?
• Can new biomarkers help predict BKV replication and viremia?

Patients will be grouped according to their BKV replication profile:

Group 1: patients with BKV viruria without viremia Group 2: patients with both BKV viruria and viremia Comparisons between these two groups will help identify whether different viral genotypes or immune responses are associated with systemic dissemination (viremia).

Kidney transplant recipients will be included if they present BKV viruria during their post-transplant follow-up. Additional blood samples will be collected during scheduled follow-up visits at the university hospital. These visits are part of routine clinical care, and no extra visits will be required specifically for the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Immune Response; BK Virus Infection; Nephropathy; Polyoma Virus Nephropathy; BK Nephropathy; BK Polyomavirus; Opportunistic Viral Infection; Neutralizing Antibodies; BK Viremia; BKV DNAemia

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Aurélie TRUFFOT, PHD; Phone Number: 0786498337; Email: atruffot@chu-grenoble.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Grenoble, France, 38000
    • Recruiting
    • CHUGA
    • Contact: Aurélie TRUFFOT, PHD; Phone Number: 0786498337; Email: atruffot@chu-grenoble.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Kidney transplant patients with a first positive BK virus viral load in urine during the 2 years after the graft

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Kidney transplant patients with a first positive BK virus viral load in urine. - BK virus viral load in urine > 3 log copies/mL.
• More than 3 months post-transplant and less than 2 years post-transplant.
• Men or women aged 18 years and older.
• Followed up at Grenoble Alpes University Hospital.
• Affiliated with social security or beneficiary of such a scheme.
• Patients who are not opposed to the TYPIK study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Expected renal graft survival is < 6 months, estimated by an eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m² at the time of BKPyV viruria
• Patients who object to the use of their data and/or samples for research purposes
• Subjects who are excluded from another study
• Subjects under administrative or judicial supervision

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To describe the prevalence and variability of different BKPyV genotypes and serotypes in a population of kidney transplant patients with BKPyV viruria/viremia.	The primary endpoint will be the classification by genotyping/serotyping of BKPyV obtained during the first viruria and the first viremia, performed using NGS and serotyping using a seroneutralization technique. The search for SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) will also enable the subclassification of genotypes and better identification of patients at risk of BKPyV viremia and therefore BKPyV-induced nephropathy.	up to 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Compare the viral genotype at the first viruria/viremia with the donor serotype and with the recipient serotype.	The donor serotype and recipient serotype will be obtained by seroneutralization (from I to IV) and the viral genotype at the first viremia and first viruria will be obtained by a complete sequencing technique (NGS).	up to 2 years
Describe the evolution of urinary BKPyV viral load during infection and compare viruria between viruric-only and viremic patients.	The urinary viral load for BKPyV will be obtained by qPCR (R-Gene) and expressed in log IU/mL at the time of inclusion in the two groups and then up to 6 months post-inclusion.	up to 2 years
Describe associations between urinary and blood BKPyV viral load and associated genotypes/the presence of a mismatch between the donor serotype and the recipient genotype.	Urinary viral load at inclusion and at the time of viremia (qPCR R-Gene technique in log IU/mL) and serotype mismatch obtained from serological data at the time of transplantation.	up to 2 years
Describe the associations between the waiting time until the first viremia and the presence or absence of a serotype mismatch at the time of transplantation, the genotype at the time of the first viruria, the viral load at the time of the first viruria,	The time will be recorded in days between the first post-transplant viruria and viremia.	up to 2 years
Compare the evolution of the anti-BKPyV T-cell functional response in patients with viruria alone and those also with viremia between inclusion and 6 months later.	Functional anti-BKPyV T cell response obtained by ELISpot and expressed in spots/350,000 PBMC evaluated at the time of the first viremia and the first viruria.	up to 2 years
Describe the link between the functional response and the presence of viremia, the evolution of the BKPyV viral load in the blood, and the genotype.	Functional anti-BKPyV T cell response obtained by ELISpot and expressed in spots/350,000 PBMC at the time of viruria and urinary and blood viral load of BKPyV by qPCR (log IU/mL)	up to 2 years
Compare the BKPyV genotype present in the renal biopsy at M3 with the urinary replicative genotype at inclusion and the donor serotype.	Genotyping of BKPyV in the renal biopsy at M3 and of replicative BKPyV in urine at inclusion will be provided by NGS. The donor serotype will be obtained by a seroneutralization technique.	up to 2 years
Quantitatively describe the presence of BKPyV microRNAs in urine and compare the two groups (viremic and viruric alone).	The presence of BKPyV microRNA will be obtained by qPCR and given in copies/mL just before inclusion and during viruria	up to two years
Describe the link between the quantity of BKPyV microRNAs and the replicative genotype.	BKPyV microRNA will be obtained by qPCR and given in copies/mL just before inclusion and genotyping of BKPyV in urine during the first viremia	up to 2 years
Quantitatively describe the presence of urinary chemokines and compare the two groups (viremic and viruric alone).	The amount of chemokine obtained by ELISA will be given in µg/mL and will be obtained at all visits.	up to 2 years
Describe the link between the quantity of B-KPyV chemokines at inclusion and the replicative genotype.	Obtaining urinary chemokine concentrations at inclusion in µg/mL and genotyping of BKPyV in urine at inclusion	up to 2 years
Monitor the number of BKV viruria or viremia depending on the immunosuppressive treatment received.	Type of immunosuppressant and blood concentration of these at the time of viremia/viruria	up to 2 years
Comparison of number of positive ELISpot in group with and without viremia (identify risk factor of viremia)	Occurrence of viremia in days relative to transplantation, number of spots on ELISpot during first viremia (BKPyV microRNA in copies/mL, serotyping of donor and recipient, and genotyping in recipient's urine)	up to 2 years
Comparison of SV40 immunohistochemistry staining results and BKPyV PCR results on M3 biopsy	Estimate the proportion of concordances between SV40 positivity in immunohistochemistry and BKPyV PCR on the M3 biopsy (copies/µg DNA) (pos/pos; pos/neg; neg/neg; neg/pos)	up to 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Grenoble
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aurélie TRUFFOT, CHUGA

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bae H, Na DH, Chang JY, Park KH, Min JW, Ko EJ, Lee H, Yang CW, Chung BH, Oh EJ. Usefulness of BK virus-specific interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay for predicting the outcome of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients. Korean J Intern Med. 2021 Jan;36(1):164-174. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2019.339. Epub 2020 Apr 3.
• Demey B, Descamps V, Presne C, Helle F, Francois C, Duverlie G, Castelain S, Brochot E. BK Polyomavirus Micro-RNAs: Time Course and Clinical Relevance in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Viruses. 2021 Feb 23;13(2):351. doi: 10.3390/v13020351.
• Gosert R, Rinaldo CH, Funk GA, Egli A, Ramos E, Drachenberg CB, Hirsch HH. Polyomavirus BK with rearranged noncoding control region emerge in vivo in renal transplant patients and increase viral replication and cytopathology. J Exp Med. 2008 Apr 14;205(4):841-52. doi: 10.1084/jem.20072097. Epub 2008 Mar 17.
• Udomkarnjananun S, Kerr SJ, Francke MI, Avihingsanon Y, van Besouw NM, Baan CC, Hesselink DA. A systematic review and meta-analysis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay for BK polyomavirus immune response monitoring after kidney transplantation. J Clin Virol. 2021 Jul;140:104848. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104848. Epub 2021 Apr 28.
• Solis M, Velay A, Porcher R, Domingo-Calap P, Soulier E, Joly M, Meddeb M, Kack-Kack W, Moulin B, Bahram S, Stoll-Keller F, Barth H, Caillard S, Fafi-Kremer S. Neutralizing Antibody-Mediated Response and Risk of BK Virus-Associated Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018 Jan;29(1):326-334. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2017050532. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 11, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 11, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: BK polyomavirus; genotype; neutralizing antibodies; TTV; ELISPOT BKV; miRNA BKV; urinary chimiokine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Kidney Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 38RC24.0247; 2025-A02381-48 (Other Identifier: ID RCB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No