Research Interests
Our research in the area of transplantation has culminated in the characterization and development of a novel, non-invasive, diagnostic test to diagnose a major infectious complication post kidney transplantation known as polyomavirus nephropathy. This new diagnostic technique developed by me and my colleagues at UNC, called “Haufen testing”, avoids invasive biopsy procedures, and could potentially have profound implications for the care of kidney allograft recipients worldwide. The clinical impact of this novel discovery is now being confirmed in a multi-center prospective study with unrestricted funding from Astellas Pharma, US Inc. for which we are the lead investigative center. We are the lead investigators with centers participating from the US, Canada, and Europe in developing an International Consensus Classification of Polyomavirus nephropathy. Funding for this work is currently under review with the ERA-EDTA (European Renal Association / European Dialysis and Transplantation Association).
Selected Publications
The Urinary Polyomavirus-Haufen Test: A Highly Predictive Non-Invasive Biomarker to Distinguish “Presumptive” from “Definitive” Polyomavirus Nephropathy: How to Use It-When to Use It-How Does It Compare to PCR Based Assays? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33477927/
Nickeleit V, Davis VG, Thompson B, Singh HK.
Viruses. 2021 Jan 19;13(1):135. doi: 10.3390/v13010135.
PMID: 33477927 Free PMC article.
Renal comorbidities in collapsing variant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: more than a coincidence? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33370435/
Gougeon F, Singh HK, Nickeleit V.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2020 Dec 28:gfaa327. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaa327. Online ahead of print.
PMID: 33370435
The 2018 Banff Working Group classification of definitive polyomavirus nephropathy: A multicenter validation study in the modern era. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32654412/
Nickeleit V, Singh HK, Dadhania D, Cornea V, El-Husseini A, Castellanos A, Davis VG, Waid T, Seshan SV.
Am J Transplant. 2021 Feb;21(2):669-680. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16189. Epub 2020 Aug 5.
PMID: 32654412 Free PMC article.
The Banff 2019 Kidney Meeting Report (I): Updates on and clarification of criteria for T cell- and antibody-mediated rejection. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32463180/
Loupy A, Haas M, Roufosse C, Naesens M, Adam B, Afrouzian M, Akalin E, Alachkar N, Bagnasco S, Becker JU, Cornell LD, Clahsen-van Groningen MC, Demetris AJ, Dragun D, Duong van Huyen JP, Farris AB, Fogo AB, Gibson IW, Glotz D, Gueguen J, Kikic Z, Kozakowski N, Kraus E, Lefaucheur C, Liapis H, Mannon RB, Montgomery RA, Nankivell BJ, Nickeleit V, Nickerson P, Rabant M, Racusen L, Randhawa P, Robin B, Rosales IA, Sapir-Pichhadze R, Schinstock CA, Seron D, Singh HK, Smith RN, Stegall MD, Zeevi A, Solez K, Colvin RB, Mengel M.
Am J Transplant. 2020 Sep;20(9):2318-2331. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15898. Epub 2020 May 28.
PMID: 32463180 Free PMC article.
BK polyomavirus nephropathy with systemic viral spread: Whole genome sequencing data from a fatal case of BKPyV infection. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32090422/
Roy S, Mieczkowski PA, Weida C, Huo J, Roehrs P, Singh HK, Nickeleit V.
Transpl Infect Dis. 2020 Apr;22(2):e13269. doi: 10.1111/tid.13269. Epub 2020 Mar 14.
PMID: 32090422
The two-faced nature of BK polyomavirus: lytic infection or non-lytic large-T-positive carcinoma.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29931826/
Nickeleit V, Singh HK, Kenan DJ, Mieczkowski PA.
J Pathol. 2018 Sep;246(1):7-11. doi: 10.1002/path.5127. Epub 2018 Jul 31.
PMID: 29931826 Free PMC article.
JAK1/2 inhibition with baricitinib in the treatment of autoinflammatory interferonopathies.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29649002/
Sanchez GAM, Reinhardt A, Ramsey S, Wittkowski H, Hashkes PJ, Berkun Y, Schalm S, Murias S, Dare JA, Brown D, Stone DL, Gao L, Klausmeier T, Foell D, de Jesus AA, Chapelle DC, Kim H, Dill S, Colbert RA, Failla L, Kost B, O’Brien M, Reynolds JC, Folio LR, Calvo KR, Paul SM, Weir N, Brofferio A, Soldatos A, Biancotto A, Cowen EW, Digiovanna JJ, Gadina M, Lipton AJ, Hadigan C, Holland SM, Fontana J, Alawad AS, Brown RJ, Rother KI, Heller T, Brooks KM, Kumar P, Brooks SR, Waldman M, Singh HK, Nickeleit V, Silk M, Prakash A, Janes JM, Ozen S, Wakim PG, Brogan PA, Macias WL, Goldbach-Mansky R.
J Clin Invest. 2018 Jul 2;128(7):3041-3052. doi: 10.1172/JCI98814. Epub 2018 Jun 11.
PMID: 29649002 Free PMC article.
Antibodies Can Extenuate Polyomavirus Infections.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29467143/
Nickeleit V, Singh HK, Rivier LH.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018 May;29(5):1577. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2017111211. Epub 2018 Feb 21.
PMID: 29467143 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
The Banff 2017 Kidney Meeting Report: Revised diagnostic criteria for chronic active T cell-mediated rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, and prospects for integrative endpoints for next-generation clinical trials.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29243394/
Haas M, Loupy A, Lefaucheur C, Roufosse C, Glotz D, Seron D, Nankivell BJ, Halloran PF, Colvin RB, Akalin E, Alachkar N, Bagnasco S, Bouatou Y, Becker JU, Cornell LD, Duong van Huyen JP, Gibson IW, Kraus ES, Mannon RB, Naesens M, Nickeleit V, Nickerson P, Segev DL, Singh HK, Stegall M, Randhawa P, Racusen L, Solez K, Mengel M.
Am J Transplant. 2018 Feb;18(2):293-307. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14625. Epub 2018 Jan 21.
PMID: 29243394 Free PMC article.
The Banff Working Group Classification of Definitive Polyomavirus Nephropathy: Morphologic Definitions and Clinical Correlations. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29279304/
Nickeleit V, Singh HK, Randhawa P, Drachenberg CB, Bhatnagar R, Bracamonte E, Chang A, Chon WJ, Dadhania D, Davis VG, Hopfer H, Mihatsch MJ, Papadimitriou JC, Schaub S, Stokes MB, Tungekar MF, Seshan SV; Banff Working Group on Polyomavirus Nephropathy.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018 Feb;29(2):680-693. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2017050477. Epub 2017 Dec 26.
PMID: 29279304 Free PMC article.
C4d-expressing glomerulopathy and proteinuria post transplantation of a too-big-for-size mismatched kidney allograft: An unusual case with good outcome .
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28933341/
Gougeon F, Mikhailov AV, Gibson K, Kozlowski T, Singh HK, Nickeleit V.
Clin Nephrol. 2017 Dec;88(12):364-370. doi: 10.5414/CN109296.
PMID: 28933341
Glomerular C4d deposits can mark structural capillary wall remodelling in thrombotic microangiopathy and transplant glomerulopathy: C4d beyond active antibody-mediated injury: a retrospective study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28207978
Gasim AH, Chua JS, Wolterbeek R, Schmitz J, Weimer E, Singh HK, Nickeleit V.
Transpl Int. 2017 May;30(5):519-532. doi: 10.1111/tri.12936. Epub 2017 Mar 23.
PMID: 28207978
Temporal and Demographic Trends in Glomerular Disease Epidemiology in the Southeastern United States, 1986-2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28325866/
O’Shaughnessy MM, Hogan SL, Poulton CJ, Falk RJ, Singh HK, Nickeleit V, Jennette JC.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Apr 3;12(4):614-623. doi: 10.2215/CJN.10871016. Epub 2017 Mar 21.
PMID: 28325866 Free PMC article.
BK Polyomavirus Genomic Integration and Large T Antigen Expression: Evolving Paradigms in Human Oncogenesis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039910/
Kenan DJ, Mieczkowski PA, Latulippe E, Côté I, Singh HK, Nickeleit V.
Am J Transplant. 2017 Jun;17(6):1674-1680. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14191. Epub 2017 Feb 21.
PMID: 28039910
Clinical Features and Outcomes of a Racially Diverse Population with Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28161700/
Payan Schober F, Jobson MA, Poulton CJ, Singh HK, Nickeleit V, Falk RJ, Jennette JC, Nachman PH, Pendergraft Iii WF.
Am J Nephrol. 2017;45(3):248-256. doi: 10.1159/000455390. Epub 2017 Feb 4.
PMID: 28161700 Free PMC article.
The Banff 2015 Kidney Meeting Report: Current Challenges in Rejection Classification and Prospects for Adopting Molecular Pathology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27862883/
Loupy A, Haas M, Solez K, Racusen L, Glotz D, Seron D, Nankivell BJ, Colvin RB, Afrouzian M, Akalin E, Alachkar N, Bagnasco S, Becker JU, Cornell L, Drachenberg C, Dragun D, de Kort H, Gibson IW, Kraus ES, Lefaucheur C, Legendre C, Liapis H, Muthukumar T, Nickeleit V, Orandi B, Park W, Rabant M, Randhawa P, Reed EF, Roufosse C, Seshan SV, Sis B, Singh HK, Schinstock C, Tambur A, Zeevi A, Mengel M.
Am J Transplant. 2017 Jan;17(1):28-41. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14107.
PMID: 27862883 Free PMC article.
