Publishing a research article on kidney transplant patients with BK infection by a faculty member of the University of Zabol in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports

This study investigated the effect of gamma interferon on candidate BK virus microRNAs and related microRNAs in kidney transplant patients with BK infection. Given the critical importance of kidney transplantation and graft rejection, it is crucial to identify genes and molecular factors that cause graft rejection. Viral agents, especially BK polyomavirus, play an important role in post-transplant complications such as BK virus-associated nephropathy. Therefore, it is of great value to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for these complications. This study focused on IFN-γ and miR-29a genes in kidney transplant patients. The present study was conducted using samples from patients with BK infection and through advanced molecular analysis methods. The results of this study showed a significant increase in miR-29a and a decrease in IFN-γ. This disruption in the IFN-γ/miR-29a pathway can weaken the immune response and predispose kidney transplant patients to viral infections. In addition, BK polyomavirus miRNAs, which are essential for viral replication, were investigated. Increased expression of miR-B1-5p and miR-B1-3p genes was observed compared to the control group. To date, there is no report on the effect of IFN-γ on the expression of BK polyomavirus miRNAs and related miRNAs in kidney transplant recipients with nephropathy compared to kidney transplant recipients without nephropathy in the Iranian population. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as a strategy to combat viral infections and pathogenesis caused by BK polyomavirus in kidney transplantation.
This research project was carried out in collaboration with professors of Zabol University and Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in the form of a master's thesis in molecular genetics by Ms. Maryam Changizi, a student of Zabol University, under the joint supervision of Dr. Gholamreza Mottalab and Dr. Ramin Yaghoubi.
To access the article, use the following link:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93503-6