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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 13, 2019
Mother-to-child transmission of oncogenic polyomaviruses BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40
Elisa Mazzoni1, Elena Pellegrinelli1, Chiara Mazziotta1
1Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 64/b, Fossato di Mortara Street, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
Objectives:
Polyomavirus (PyV) infections have been associated with different diseases. BK (BKPyV), JC (JCPyV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) are the three main PyVs whose primary infection occurs early in life. Their vertical transmission was investigated in this study.
Methods:
PyV sequences were analyzed by the digital droplet PCR in blood, serum, placenta, amniotic fluid, vaginal smear from two independent cohorts of pregnant females and umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples. IgG antibodies against the three PyVs were investigated by indirect E.L.I.S.As with viral mimotopes.
Results:
DNAs from blood, vaginal smear and placenta tested BKPyV-, JCPyV- and SV40-positive with a distinct prevalence, while amniotic fluids were all PyVs-negative. A prevalence of 3%, 7%, and 3% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40 DNA sequences, respectively, was obtained in UCBs. Serum IgG antibodies from pregnant females reached an overall prevalence of 62%, 42% and 17% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40, respectively. Sera from newborns (UCB) tested IgG-positive with a prevalence of 10% for BKPyV/JCPyV and 3% for SV40.
Conclusions:
In this investigation, PyV vertical transmission was revealed by detecting PyV DNA sequences and IgG antibodies in samples from females and their offspring suggesting a potential risk of diseases in newborns.
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