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Published on: November 16, 2015
Identification of the novel KI and WU polyomaviruses in human tonsils
Muhammed Babakir-Mina1, Massimo Ciccozzi, Daniela Bonifacio
1Laboratory of Molecular Virology, University Hospital Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81-00133 Rome, Italy.
Background:
Three novel polyomaviruses have been recently discovered: KI, WU and MC polyomaviruses. Their role in human pathology is debated while tissue tropism and site of latency remain unknown.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that KI, WU and MC polyomaviruses can infect human tonsils.
Study Design:
Archival paraffin-embedded tonsils from 91 patients affected by different tonsil diseases were screened by polymerase chain reaction to detect viral DNA of KIV, WUV, MCV, BKV and JCV. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of the identified polyomaviruses was carried out.
Results:
Of the 91 tested specimens, 11 contained KIV DNA (12%), 4 WUV DNA (4.4%), 5 BKV DNA (5.5%). MCV and JCV were not detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that KIVs identified in tonsils fall into a clade distinct from that containing KIVs isolated from respiratory secretions, respiratory tissue and feces. Moreover, four positively selected sites (4.5% of t-Ag sites) were found under strong positive selection (omega=11.4), with posterior probabilities above 0.99. All the sites were located in the N-terminal region of the small t antigen.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that the novel KI and WU polyomaviruses can infect human tonsils. Future studies are needed to define their role in tonsil diseases.
Insights
Novel polyomaviruses KI (KIV) and WU (WUV) infect human tonsils, as shown by PCR screening of tonsil tissue. Further research is needed to understand their role in tonsil diseases.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Human Pathology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Three novel polyomaviruses (KI, WU, MC) have been identified, but their pathological roles and tissue tropism are unclear.
- The potential for these novel viruses to infect human tissues remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and potential infection of human tonsils by KI, WU, and MC polyomaviruses.
- To determine if these novel polyomaviruses exhibit tropism for tonsillar tissue.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 91 archival, paraffin-embedded human tonsil specimens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Detection of viral DNA from KI polyomavirus (KIV), WU polyomavirus (WUV), MC polyomavirus (MCV), BK polyomavirus (BKV), and JC polyomavirus (JCV).
- Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses were performed on identified polyomaviruses.
Main Results:
- KI polyomavirus DNA was detected in 12% (11/91) of tonsil specimens, and WU polyomavirus DNA in 4.4% (4/91).
- MC polyomavirus and JC polyomavirus were not detected in any of the tested tonsil samples.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed that tonsil-derived KIVs form a distinct clade, separate from those found in respiratory or fecal samples. Four positively selected sites in the small t antigen were identified.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that KI and WU polyomaviruses can infect human tonsils.
- These results highlight the tonsil as a potential site for KI and WU polyomavirus infection.
- Further investigation is required to elucidate the specific role of these viruses in tonsil-related pathologies.
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