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- nei
- nidcr
- Pediatrics
Disruption of Myelin Structure and Oligodendrocyte Maturation in a Macaque Model of Congenital Zika Infection
Tisoncik-Go et al., Nature Communications. 2024.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49524-2
Maternal infection during pregnancy can have severe consequences on fetal development and survival. Using a pigtail macaque model for Zika virus infection, researchers show that in utero exposure of a fetus to Zika virus due to maternal infection results in significantly decreased myelin formation around neurons. Myelin is a protective sheath that forms around neurons and is required for brain processing speed. This study suggests that reduced myelin resulting from Zika infection in utero is likely a contributing factor to severe deficits in brain development and microcephaly. Supported by ORIP (P51OD010425), NEI, and NIAID.
Genetic Diversity of 1,845 Rhesus Macaques Improves Genetic Variation Interpretation and Identifies Disease Models
Wang et al., Nature Communications. 2024.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49922-6
Nonhuman primates are ideal models for certain human diseases, including retinal and neurodevelopmental disorders. Using a reverse genetics approach, researchers profiled the genetic diversity of rhesus macaque populations across eight primate research centers in the United States and uncovered rhesus macaques carrying naturally occurring pathogenic mutations. They identified more than 47,000 single-nucleotide variants in 374 genes that had been previously linked with retinal and neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. These newly identified variants can be used to study human disease pathology and to test novel treatments. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107, P51OD011106, P40OD012217, S10OD032189), NEI, NIAID, and NIMH.
Early Treatment Regimens Achieve Sustained Virologic Remission in Infant Macaques Infected with SIV at Birth
Wang et al., Nature Communications. 2022.
https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32554-z
About 150,000 children are infected postnatally with HIV each year. Early antiretroviral therapy (ART) in infants with HIV can reduce viral reservoir size, but ART-free virologic remission has not been achieved. The researchers hypothesized that proviral reservoir seeding in infants exposed to HIV might differ from that in adults. They characterized viral reservoirs in neonatal rhesus macaques of both sexes inoculated with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) at birth and given combination ART. The researchers reported that 9 months of treatment initiated at day 3 resulted in a sustained virologic remission, suggesting that early intervention with proper treatment regimens could be an effective strategy. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011104), NIAID, NICHD, and NIDCR.
Early Post-Vaccination Gene Signatures Correlate With the Magnitude and Function of Vaccine-Induced HIV Envelope–Specific Plasma Antibodies in Infant Rhesus Macaques
Vijayan et al., Frontiers in Immunology. 2022.
https://www.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.840976
An effective vaccine is needed to reduce HIV infections, particularly among younger people. The initiation of an HIV vaccine regimen in early life could allow the development of mature HIV‑specific antibody responses that protect against infection. The investigators compared the effects of two vaccine regimens in infant rhesus macaques (sex not specified). Both vaccines induced a rapid innate response, indicated by elevated inflammatory plasma cytokines and altered gene expression. By performing a network analysis, the investigators identified differentially expressed genes associated with B cell activation. These findings suggest that vaccine-induced immunity can be optimized by modulating specific antibody and T cell responses. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107), NCI, NIAID, and NIDCR.