BK polyomavirus small T antigen–derived peptides presented on MHC (BKV sT-MHC)

BK polyomavirus (BKV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that establishes lifelong latency in the renal tubular epithelium and is a major cause of BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in kidney transplant recipients (PubMed: 28655142). The small T antigen (sT) is an early viral protein that plays a crucial role in viral DNA replication and cell cycle progression by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) (UniProt: P03074). Peptides derived from the sT protein are processed and presented on the surface of infected cells by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, serving as essential epitopes for recognition by CD8+ and CD4+ T cells (PubMed: 24501058). These peptide-MHC complexes are the primary targets for adoptive T-cell therapies, such as posoleucel, which aim to restore viral immunity in immunocompromised patients (AlloVir, 2023). By targeting these specific viral antigens, the immune system can selectively destroy BKV-infected cells, thereby controlling viral replication and preventing graft rejection or hemorrhagic cystitis. The specificity of T-cell recognition for these complexes ensures that only infected cells are targeted, although challenges such as HLA restriction and potential off-target effects remain.

Other names

BK virus small T antigen peptidesBKV sT epitopesBKV sT-HLA complexBK polyomavirus sT antigenBKV small T antigen

T-cell mediated cytotoxicity against BK virus-infected cells