Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 13, 2019
The human polyomaviruses
S Eash1, K Manley, M Gasparovic
1Graduate Program in Pathobiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, USA.
Abstract:
The Polyomavirus family includes two members, BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV), that naturally infect humans. These viruses are widely distributed among the population worldwide. Primary infection occurs in early childhood and remains for life clinically unapparent in immunocompetent individuals. In the context of severe immunosuppression and other predisposing factors BKV and JCV may reactivate and cause serious illnesses known as Polyomavirus-induced nephropathy and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, respectively. Here we briefly examine the biological and physical characteristics and the lifecycle, namely receptor(s) interaction, mode of entry, intracellular trafficking, viral transcription and replication, and progeny assembly of these two human Polyomaviruses. We also provide an overview of the clinical manifestation of Polyomavirus-induced disorders in affected individuals and discuss the potential involvement of BKV and JCV in human cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Poliomyelitis
Retroviruses
Human Virome
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

