Natural and patient-derived mutations in BK polyomavirus VP1 reveal structural determinants of BC-loop dependent antibody escape
BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) reactivation poses a serious threat to both renal and hematopoietic transplant outcomes, with no approved antiviral therapies. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting the viral capsid protein VP1 have recently advanced into clinical development, driven by promising in vitro potency. Since naturally elicited neutralizing antibodies arise following infection, we examined whether host immune pressure may have shaped the VP1 surface, with implications for therapeutic application. To probe the impact of VP1 coevolution on therapeutic engagement, we evaluated two neutralizing antibody formats: the clinical-stage monoclonal antibody 319C07 and nanobodies VHH16 and VHH17. Our X-ray crystallographic analysis of the VP1 pentameric core in complex with antibody fragments showed a convergent receptor- mimetic engagement of the sialic acid-binding cleft, mapping to a shared epitope centered around the VP1 BC-loop. Analysis of over 900 BKPyV VP1 sequences from public databases, combined with longitudinal VP1 sequence data from transplant recipients, highlighted widespread pre-existing diversity at the BC-loop contact sites, underscoring the evolutionary adaptability of BKPyV at this antigenic surface that may compromise therapeutic recognition. Through integrated mutagenesis and binding analyses, we show that circulating BC-loop mutations, including single amino acid substitutions, are sufficient to abrogate 319C07 binding and neutralization. Nanobodies VHH16 and VHH17, selected for their compact size and potential to access intrarenal sites of BKPyV replication, also exhibited complete loss of binding across multiple clinically observed VP1 variants. Our findings may offer a mechanistic framework to interpret the translational gap between in vitro neutralization and clinical efficacy of these biologics. As part of ongoing efforts to target VP1, we demonstrate, for the first time, small molecules with nanomolar to sub-nanomolar affinities against BKPyV VP1 variants including potent binding to JCPyV VP1. Our work paves a path towards a new class of antiviral strategies that could block replication at intracellular replication sites, provide a higher genetic barrier to resistance and the potential to address both viral reactivation and persistent, high- burden viremia in transplant settings.