Visual, rapid, and cost-effective BK virus detection system for renal transplanted patients using gold nanoparticle coupled loop-mediated isothermal amplification (nanoLAMP)

• Published in: Journal of virological methods Vol. 325; p. 114889
• Main Authors: Kumar, Sunil, Raman, Srishty, Sesham, Kishore, Gupta, Abhishek, Yadav, Raj Kanwar, Mridha, Asit Ranjan, Yadav, Subhash Chandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2024
• Subjects: BK virus; Cost-effective; Detection; Nano-LAMP; Renal transplantation; Visual test; Renal transplantation; Nano-LAMP; Visual test; BK virus; Detection; Cost-effective; visual test; detection; cost-effective; renal transplantation
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114889

A substantial percentage of kidney transplant recipients show transplant failure due to BK virus-induced nephropathy. This can be clinically controlled by the rapid and timely detection of BK virus infection in immune-compromised patients. We report a rapid (two hours from sample collection, processing, and detection), cost-effective (< 2$), highly sensitive and BKV-specific nanoLAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) diagnostic methodology using novel primers and gold nanoparticles complex-based visual detection. The standardized nanoLAMP showed an analytical sensitivity of 25 copies/µl and did not cross-react with closely related JC and SV40 viruses. This nanoLAMP showed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity as 91% and 96%, respectively, taking 50 BK virus-negative (confirmed by qPCR from the plasma of healthy donors) and 57 positive BKV patient samples (confirmed by clinical parameters and qPCR assay). This simple two-step, low-cost, and quick (1–2 h/test) detection would be advantageous over the currently used diagnostic methodology. It may change the paradigm for polyomavirus infection-based failure of renal transplant. [Display omitted] •A rapid, cost-effective (< 2$), highly sensitive and BKV-specific nanoLAMP method.•This showed an analytical sensitivity of 25 copies/µl/per reaction and specific.•This showed clinical sensitivity (91%), and specificity (96%), respectively.•This simple two-step method would be advantageous over the current diagnostics.