Abstract: The present application describes and claims a novel method for identifying and stratifying the risk of developing a BK virus nephropathy (“Nx BK-v” below) in patients having undergone a kidney transplant. This method uses an index combining at least three bio-markers: i) the intensity of the anti-BK-v memory T lymphocyte response (memory T lymphocytes which are specific to v, hereinafter “LTm anti-BK-v”), ii) the number of occurrences of incompatibility in the HLA alleles of class I and class II between the donor and the recipient of the graft, taking into account iii) the viral charge of the BK-v virus in the whole blood of the patient. The present method allows a very precise evaluation of the risk of developing an Nx BK-v during the months following the test with the aim of optimising the immuno-suppressive treatment in order to better preserve the transplanted kidney.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing and treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject is at risk of having or developing a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) comprising the step consisting of determining the level of calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) in a blood sample obtained from the subject. The present invention also relates to an agent effective to inhibit the binding of CASK to hCD98 present on the surface of podocytes for use in the prevention or treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in a subject in need thereof.