#AI reads Urine# Virus in Urine: Shedding dynamics of a DNA virus population during acute and long-term persistent infection

Scientists studied how DNA viruses, using murine polyomavirus as a model, infect and persist in hosts. They used barcoded viruses to track thousands of viral variants in mice. Early in infection, many different barcoded viruses replicate and shed in urine at high levels. Later, the infection becomes persistent, with low-level shedding of hundreds of barcoded viruses continuing constantly. Occasionally, one or a few barcoded viruses shed in high amounts, reducing the diversity of shed viruses over time. Different organs like the kidneys act as separate virus reservoirs with unique viral compositions, showing limited virus exchange between organs. These findings reveal how polyomaviruses balance continuous low-level transmission with occasional high-level reactivation, explaining their ability to persist long-term and spread, which is common in many DNA viruses. The study's methods may help understand persistent infections of other microbes.

PLoS Pathog. 2025 May 23;21(5):e1013083. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013083.

Youhe Gao

Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.

For earlier AI Reads Urine articles：

https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/advances-in-biomarker-sciences-and-technology/ai-reads-urine/