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Coronavirus Studies in Nonhuman Primate Models

This page provides a curated list of coronavirus studies and reviews using nonhuman primate (NHP) models.

Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Nagoya University; Kyushu University; Akita University Graduate School of Medicine; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mathematical model, infection dynamics, kinetics of viral shedding, primates
Summary of Study: The authors used a simple mathematical model to quantify SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in rhesus macaques. When antiviral treatments are initiated early (i.e. 0.5 d after virus inoculation), viral shedding is (paradoxically) prolonged by about 6.0 days compared with no treatment.
References: PMID: 34344719 / doi: 10.26508/lsa.202101049
Contact Info: Keisuke Ejima: kejima@iu.edu; Shingo Iwami: iwami.iblab@bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp
URL: https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/4/10/e202101049
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Sanofi Pasteur, Yoh Services, Global Discovery Pathology, Translate Bio
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, multiple animal species, mRNA vaccine, immune response, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: Several mRNA vaccine candidates were assessed; the lead 2P/GSAS vaccine formulation (designated MRT550) elicited potent nAbs as well as TH1-biased responses in NHPs, thus alleviating a hypothetical concern of potential vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory diseases known associated with TH2-biased responses. These data position MRT5500 as a viable vaccine candidate for entering clinical development.
References: PMID: 33875658 / doi: 10.1038/s41541-021-00324-5
Contact Info: Kirill Kalnin: kkirill45us@gmail.com
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-021-00324-5
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Trinomab Biotech Co.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, ferritin nanoparticles, receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: Self-assembling nanoparticle vaccines displaying the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 were prepared, and the vaccine candidate elicited obust humoral and T cell responses and protected the rhesus monkeys from infection with short-term shedding and only minor pathological damage.
References: PMID: 33951913 / doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00208
Contact Info: Longding Liu: longdingl@gmail.com; Qihan Li: liqihan@imbcams.com.cn; Zhanlong He: hzl@imbcams.com.cn
URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00208
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Dalhousie University; University of Calgary
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, anthropozoonosis, virus transmission between the sanimal species, primates
Summary of Study: While the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via wastewater is low, tracing of viral RNA in wastewater does provide a unique testing approach to help protect NHPs at zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.
References: PMID: 34662463 / doi: 10.1002/ajp.23340
Contact Info: Graham Dellaire: dellaire@dal.ca
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajp.23340
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Perelman School of Medicine (UPenn),
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, clinical and pathologic consequences, ACE2 decoy protein, primates
Summary of Study: The ACE2 decoy (soluble forms of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) gene therapy approach could be effectively deployed to vulnerable populations in the COVID-19 pandemic and potentially to broader populations at the outset of future coronavirus pandemics.
References: PMID: 34265018 / doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009544
Contact Info: James Wilson: wilsonjm@upenn.edu
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1009544
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Washington Univ SOM, NIAID
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus-vectored vaccine, immunogenicity and protective efficacy, primates
Summary of Study: A single intranasal dose of ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S induces neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses and limits or prevents infection in the upper and lower respiratory tracts after SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.
References: PMID: 33754147 / doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100230
Contact Info: Heinz Feldmann: feldmannh@niaid.nih.gov; Michael Diamond: diamond@wusm.wustl.edu
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266637912100046X?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID/NIH; CureVac AG
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mRNA-vaccine, spike protein, humoral and cellular immune responses, primates
Summary of Study: Prime-boost vaccination with 4 ug of vaccine candidate CV07050101 resulted in limited mimmune responses in four out of six non-human primates.
References: PMID: 34452509 / doi: 10.3390/v13081645
Contact Info: Vincent Munster: vincent.munster@nih.gov
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1645
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIH
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, single-cell RNA sequencing, lung cells, primates
Summary of Study: Monocyte-derived macrophages recruited to the lungs, rather than tissue-resident alveolar macrophages, were most likely to be responsible for phagocytosis of infected cells and cellular debris early in infection, with their roles switching during clearance of infection.
References: PMID: 33431511 / doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abe8146
Contact Info: Emmie DeWit: dewit@nih.gov
URL: https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/13/578/eabe8146.short
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NCR Biotech Science Cluster; Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; Krishi Vigyan Kendra; Inter University Centre for Biomedical Research and Super Speciality Hospital
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, zoonotic diseases, one health approach, multiple species, primates
Summary of Study: This review examines the different natural and experimentally induced cases of human to animal SARS-CoV-2 infection (reverse zoonosis).
References: PMID: 34903944 / doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2817-2826
Contact Info: R. Kumar Pramod: drpramodr@gmail.com
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8654767/pdf/Vetworld-14-2817.pdf
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College; Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University; Wuhan University; National Institute for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC)
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, recombinant vaccine, spike trimer, immunogenicity, mice, hamsters, primates
Summary of Study: A recombinant spike protein vaccine adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide and CpG 7909 showed high immunogenicity and good protective efficacy in preclinical studies, supporting further clinical trials.
References: PMID: 34750014 / doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.066
Contact Info: Ge Liu: liuge@walvax.com; Jiangning Liu: liujn@cnilas.org.cn; Youhua Xie: yhxie@fudan.edu.cn; Zhongyu Hu: huzy67@163.com
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X21013992?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine; Washington University; National Cancer Institute/NIH; BIOQUAL; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, nanoparticle protein vaccine, humoral and cellular immune responses, primates
Summary of Study: Findings support the continued development of SARS-CoV-2 RBD ferritin nanoparticle vaccines (RFN) for managing COVID-19 and related SARS-CoV-like virus outbreaks.
References: PMID: 34470866 / doi: 10.1073/pnas.2106433118
Contact Info: Kayvon Modjarrad: kmodjarrad@eidresearch.org; Diane Bolton: dbolton@hivresearch.org
URL: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/38/e2106433118.long
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology; Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, receptor-binding domain subunit vaccine, humoral and cellular immune responses, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: A trimeric SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) subunit vaccine that stimulates the natural structure of the spike (S) trimer glycoprotein is highly immunogenic and safe, providing long-lasting, broad, and significant immunity protection in NHPs. The vaccine-induced antibodies can effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant. A booster vaccination can quickly activate the memory immune response to avoid re-infection.
References: PMID: 34179862 / doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100140
Contact Info: Limin Yang: lmyang@im.ac.cn; Yong-tang Zheng: zhengyt@mail.kiz.ac.cn
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8214323/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC); Eurofins-INGENASA; Erasmus University Medical Center; Utrecht University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, post-acute phase, immune response, tomography, virus replication, primates
Summary of Study: NHPs infected with SARS-CoV-2 were followed for up to 6 weeks and monitored for COVID-19-like disease symptoms. Data indicate widespread tissue dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 in individual monkeys and provide evidence for continuing virus replication in lungs and surrounding lymph nodes after alleged convalescence of infection.
References: PMID: 34452537 / doi: 10.3390/v13081673
Contact Info: Ernst Verschoor: verschoor@bprc.nl
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1673
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Battelle National Biodefense Institute; Gryphon Scientific LLC, Censeo Insight; Applied Research Associates
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, inhalation, infection route, virus detection, dose response, primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent disease presentation are dependent on exposure dose in a nonhuman primate model of inhalational COVID-19.
References: PMID: 34424943 / doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009865
Contact Info: Paul Dabisch: paul.dabisch@nbacc.dhs.gov
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1009865
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID/NIH; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Emory University; Moderna, Bioqual
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, RNA-vaccine, immune response, virus replication, protection, primates
Summary of Study: Data establish that a two-dose regimen of mRNA-1273 (Moderna vaccine) will be critical for providing upper and lower airway protection against major varriants of concern.
References: PMID: 34417590 / doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-02021-0
Contact Info: Barney Graham: bgraham@nih.gov; Robert Seder: rseder@mail.nih.gov
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-01021-0
Coronavirus Investigated: MERS-CoV
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: The Wistar Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, NIAID, and others
Keywords: MERS-CoV, intradermal and intramuscular delivery, synthetic DNA vaccine, primates
Summary of Study: Results illustrate that a MERS spike antigen synthetic DNA vaccine administered in a 2-dose i.d. EP regimen can have positive impact in an important NHP challenge model protecting against symptoms and pathology.
References: PMID: 33886507 / doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.146082
Contact Info: David Weiner: dweiner@wistar.org
URL: https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/146082
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Public Health England & Welcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenicity, comparative studies, primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the upper and lower respiratory tract and causes pulmonary lesions in both rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. This provides convincing evidence that both macaque species authentically represent mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 observed in the majority of the human populations and both species can e used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of interventions proposed against SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, accessing cynomolgus macaques will greatly alleviate the pressures on current rhesus stocks.
References: PMID: 33627662 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21389-9
Contact Info: Miles Carroll: miles.carroll@phe.gov.uk
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21389-9
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Wheaten College, Cornell University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, virus susceptibility, animal welfare, hamsters, ferrets, primates
Summary of Study: Paper reviews virus susceptibilities in species with frequent human contact, and factors that are best predictors of virus susceptibility.
References: PMID: 34359172 / doi: 10.3390/ani11072044
Contact Info: Kathleen Morgan: kmorgan@wheatoncollege.edu
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2044
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: prevention
NPRC/Institute: Beijing DanXu Biopharmaceuticals
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, monoclonal antibody, ELISA assay, pharmacokinetic, primates
Summary of Study: In cynomolgus monkeys, BD-604 (a fully human monoclonal antibody) possesses pharmacokinetic properties similar to natural IgGs.
References: PMID: 34215019 / doi: 10.1002/dta.3122
Contact Info: Xu Zhang: janet_xu_zhang@singlomics.com
URL: https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.3122
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, combined intratracheal and intranasal inoculation, primates
Summary of Study: The severity of respiratory tract infection enhanced air transmission and induced wide and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lungs, suggesting the occurrence of more severe infectiousness and lung injury in SARS-CoV-2 patients with nasal infection.
References: PMID: 33587263 / doi: 10.1007/s11427-020-1877-4
Contact Info: Yong-Tang Zheng: zhengyt@mail.kiz.ac.cn
URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11427-020-1877-4
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: pigtail macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane National Primate Research Center; Tulane University School of Medicine; Florida State University; University of Texas Medical Branch; Perelman School of Medicine; Duke University Medical Center; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, respiratory viral challenge, immune response, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: Data demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection of pigtail macaques recapitulates important features of COVID-19 and reveals new immune and viral dynamics and thus may serve as a useful animal model for studying pathogenesis and testing vaccines and therapeutics.
References: PMID: 34929014 / doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010162
Contact Info: Nicholas Maness: nmaness@tulane.edu
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1010162
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: tamarins, marmosets, howler monkeys, titi monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil; Fundacao de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieria Dourado, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Brazil; Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein; Instituto Butanta; Departamento de Vigilancia Epidemiologica de Sao Jose do Rio Preto; New Mexico State University; The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston; Instituto Leonidas e Maria Deane, Brazil
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, wild animals, molecular and serological tests, primates
Summary of Study: Although no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected, continued surveillance of NHPs in this region is warranted and may identify geographic areas or particular NHP species prone to spillover.
References: PMID: 34696363 / doi: 10.3390/v13101933
Contact Info: Marcus Vinicius Guimaraes de Lacerda: marcuslacerda.br@gmail.com; Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira: mnogueira@famerp.br
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/10/1933
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, LSU Health Science Center, Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg, and more
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pulmonary vascular endotheliosis, perivascular inflammation, rodents and primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 causes endotheliitis via both infection and infection-mediated immune activation, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 disease.
References: PMID: 34335981 / doi: 10.7150/thno.61810
Contact Info: Jay Kolls: jkolls1@tulane.edu; Fengming Liu: fliu6@tulane.edu; Jay Rappaport: jrappaport@tulane.edu
URL: https://www.thno.org/v11p8076.htm
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen Kangtai Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Zhenzhou University; National Institutes for Food and Drug Control; Henan Normal University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, chimeric spike protein, humoral immune response, pathology, mice, primates
Summary of Study: The strategy of chimerica expression SARS-CoV-2 S RBD in SARS-CoV represents a new design for other vaccine platforms.
References: PMID: 34759261 / doi: 10.1038/s41392-021-00797-9
Contact Info: Shuguang Duo: duoshuguang@ioz.ac.cn
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-021-00797-9
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Celltech Pharmed Co.; Iran University of Medical Sciences; University of Iran; Tarbiat Modares University; Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mRNA-vaccine, lipid nanoparticle, spike protein, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: A novel mRNA-LNP vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 was developed and preclinically evaluated, revealing that it was efficient enough to induce hgih level production of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in mice and rhesus macaque monkeys.
References: PMID: 34579244 / doi: 10.3390/vaccines9091007
Contact Info: Alireza Sohi: nanosohi@strc.ac.ir; Jafar Kiani: kiani.ja@iums.ac.ir; Ehsan Arefian: arefian@ut.ac.ir; Arezou Khosrojerdi: arezou.khosrojerdi@modares.ac.ir; Mohammad Zim: mk.zim73@ut.ac.ir
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/9/1007
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: lemurs, lorises
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of Calgary; Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; North Carolina Central University, Duke University and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 gene and protein sequences, several species, primates
Summary of Study: Study suggests that lemurs of the families Indriidae, Daubentonlidae, and Lemuridae are likely to be particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
References: PMID: 33792947 / doi: 10.1002/ajp.23255
Contact Info: James Higham: jhigham@nyu.edu
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajp.23255
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnologi, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, virus entry mediated by ACE2, several species
Summary of Study: A natural isoform of the rhesus macaque ACE2 protein with the Y217N mutation was resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection, highlighting the possible impact of this ACE2 mutation on SARS-CoV-2 studies in rhesus macaques. The authors also demonstrated that the Y217 residue of ACE2 is a critical determinant for the ability of ACE2 to mediate SARS-CoV-2 entry. The results of this study clarify that SARS-CoV-2 can use the ACE2 receptors of multiple animal species and show that tracking the natural reservoirs and intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 is complex.
References: PMID: 33610551 / doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100435
Contact Info: Yan-Dong Tang: tangyandong2008@163.com
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021925821002088?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: marmosets
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Russian Academy of Sciences, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, serology, neutralizing antibodies, immunogenicity, inactivated vaccine, primates
Summary of Study: A B-propiolactone-inactivated whole virion vaccine CoviVac was developed and assessed. The vaccine produced stable and robust humoral immune response in mice, Syrian hamsters and common marmosets.
References: PMID: 34427172 / doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1971569
Contact Info: Liubov Kozlovskaya: lubov_i_k@mail.ru
URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2021.1971569
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, hamadryas baboons, marmosets
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Regeneron, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome, young and old animals, primates
Summary of Study: Acute respiratory distress in macaques and baboons recapitulates the progression of COVID-19 in humans, making them suitable as models to test vaccines and therapies.
References: PMID: 33340034 / doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-00841-4
Contact Info: Deepak Kaushal: dkaushal@txbiomed.org, Luis Giavedoni: lgiavedoni@txbiomed.org
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-020-00841-4#Sec9
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Duke University School of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, NIAID, Harvard Medical School, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibodies, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: In vitro infection-enhancing RBC and NTD ABs controlled virus in vito and was rarely associated with enhanced lung pathology.
References: PMID: 34242577 / doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.021
Contact Info: Barton Haynes (Duke University School of Medicine); Kevin Saunders (Duke University School of Medicine)
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009286742100756X?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, african green monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Nagasaki University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, infective dose, several animal species, pathogenesis, primates
Summary of Study: This review focused on comparative infective dose studies for SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS. The review suggests that the infective dose in humans is small, perhaps about 100 particles. Further work is required to understand the relationship between routes of transmission, infective dose, co-infection and outcomes.
References: PMID: 33849679 / doi: 10.1017/S0950268821000790
Contact Info: Sedighe Karimzadeh: sedigekarimsadeh@gmail.com; Raj Bhopal: Raj.Bhopal@ed.ac.uk
URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/revi…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Fudan University, Second Military Medical University, Peking University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, cell-based vaccine, neutralizing antibodies, immune response, pathology, mice, primates
Summary of Study: The data present strong evidence supporting the promise of K562-S (a novel cell-based vaccine candidate that uses human cell K562 as a cellular carrier to display Spike (S) protein on the membrane) as a new effective vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.
References: PMID: 34304724 / doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1957400
Contact Info: Jianqing Xu: xujianqing@shphc.org.cn; Xiaoyan Zhang: zhangxiaoyan@shphc.org.cn; Chen Zhao: chen_zhao72@163.com; Ping Zhao: pnzhao@163.com
URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2021.1957400
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: olive baboons
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Novavax, University of Maryland, University of Oklahoma, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, subunit vaccine (NVX-CoV2373), mice and primates
Summary of Study: Administering a subunit vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) constructed from the full-length S-protein, with Matrix-M adjuvant in a nonhuman primate model induces B- and T-cell responses, hACE2-receptor-blocking antibodies, and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. These results support the clinical development of the NVX-C0V2373 vaccine for prevention of COVID-19.
References: PMID: 33446655 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20653-8
Contact Info: Gale Smith: gsmith@novavax.com
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20653-8
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Indian Veterinary Research Institute and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, domestic and wild animal species, public health
Summary of Study: This review analyzes the current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection in domestic and wild animal species and their possible implications on public health.
References: PMID: 33892621 / doi: 10.1080/01652176/2021.1921311
Contact Info: Khan Sharun: sharunkhansk@gmail.com; Kuldeep Dhama: kdhama@rediffmail.com
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8128218/pdf/TVEQ_41_1921311.pdf
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of Texas Medical Branch
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, convalescent sera, primates
Summary of Study: Convalescent plasma therapy in humans may be an effective strategy provided that donor sera contain high anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titers given in early states of the disease.
References: PMID: 33662255 / doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108837
Contact Info: Thomas W. Geisbert:
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124721001510?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Weill Cornell Medical College
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, vaccines, antibody and T cell immunogenicity, review, primates
Summary of Study: This review article looks at what is known of the antibody and T cell immunogenicity of vaccines that have advanced to human clinical trials. Includes summary of press releases on the outcomes of vaccine efficacy trials.
References: PMID: 33608249 / doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe8065
Contact Info: John P. Moore: jpm2003@med.cornell.edu
URL: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/12/eabe8065
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIH
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, review, different primate species
Summary of Study: The authors advocate for baboons as a viable alternative to rhesus macaques in SARS-CoV-2 research.
References: PMID: 33785923 / doi:10.1038/s41684-021-00755-6
Contact Info: Michael Chang: changmic@mail.nih.gov
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-021-00755-6
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine; Washington University; NCI/NIH; BIOQUAL; Texas Biomedical Research Institute; Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, nanoparticle protein vaccine, humoral and cellular immune responses, virus variants, primates
Summary of Study: A ferritin nanoparticle vaccine displaying the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein adjuvanted with Army Liposomal Formulation QS-21 induces robust and broad antibody and T cell responses, as well as protection against viral replication and lung pathology following high-dose respiratory tract challenge with SARS-CoV-2.
References: PMID: 34470866 / doi: 10.1073/pnas.2106433118
Contact Info: Kayvon Modjarrad: kmodjarrad@eidresearch.org; Diane Bolton: dbolton@hivresearch.org
URL: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/38/e2106433118.long
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Institute for Basic Science (IBS) (Repblic of Kores), Eulji University School of Medicine, Seol National University Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, nasal ciliated cells, virus tropism, primates
Summary of Study: Nasal multiciliated epithelial cells are th emain target for SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in the upper airway during the early stages of COVID-19, implying that targeting nasal ciliated cells could be an ideal strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 propagation.
References: PMID: 34003804 / doi: 10.1172/JCI148517
Contact Info: Ji Hoon Ahn: ahnadun@kaist.ac.kr; JungMo Kim: jmkim@ibs.re.kr; Seon Pyo Hong: sp_hong@kaist.ac.kr; Young Tae Kim: ytkim@snu.ac.kr, Chang-Seop Lee: lcsmd@jbnu.ac.kr
URL: https://www.jci.org/articles/view/148517
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Universite Paris-Saclay/Inserm/CEA; Vaccine Research INstitute, Creteil, France; Inserm; Baylor Scott and White Research Institute; Institut Pasteur; Karolinska Institutet; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, subunit vaccine, receptor-binding domain, immune response, humanized mice, primates
Summary of Study: A single dose of the alphaCD40.RBD (a vaccine that targets the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen to the CD40 receptor) administered without adjuvant boosts the protective response in COVID-10 convalescent NHPs.
References: PMID: 34471122 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25382-0
Contact Info: Yves Levy: yves.levy@inserm.fr
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25382-0
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Harvard Medical School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus vaccine, immunogenicity and protective efficacy, mice
Summary of Study: RhAd52 vaccines elicit robust SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody responses and protect against clinical disease and viral replication in the lungs. These data validate the MA10 mouse model as a useful tool to screen and study novel vaccine candidates, as well as the development of RhAd52 vaccines for COVID-19.
References: PMID: 34523968 / doi: 10.1128/JVI.00974-21
Contact Info: Dan Barouch: dbarouch@bidmc.harvard.edu
URL: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/JVI.00974-21?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=or…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, BIOQUAL, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, prior infection, vaccination, virus variants, protection, hamsters, primates
Summary of Study: Data suggest partial but reduced short-term protective efficacy of WA1/2020 natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. More research is needed to define protective efficacy against other SARS-CoV-2 variants and the immunologic mechanisms of protection against these variants.
References: PMID: 34546094 / doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj2641
Contact Info: Dan Barouch: dbarouch@bidmc.harvard.edu
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj2641?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rf…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Battelle National Biodefense Institute; Gryphon Scientific LLC; Censeo Insight; Applied Research Associates
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, inhalation, seroconversion, fever, dose response, primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent disease presentation are dependent on exposure dose in a nonhuman primate model of inhalational COVID-19.
References: PMID: 34424943 / doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009865
Contact Info: Paul Dabisch: paul.dabisch@nbacc.dhs.gov
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1009865
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: VaxiGen, Inc., Genexine, Inc., Korea National Primate Research Centre, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, DNA-based vaccine, mice and primates, immune response
Summary of Study: A synthetic soluble SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) DNA-based vaccine candidate, GX-19, provides a durable protective immune response in rhesus macaques, supporting further development of GX-19 as a vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2.
References: PMID: 33804981 / doi: 10.3390/vaccines9040307
Contact Info: Yong Bok Seo: ybseo@slvaxigen.com; You Suk Suh: yssuh@genexine.com; Jung Joo Hong: hong75@kribb.re.kr
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/4/307
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Univ. of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, D614G Spike Mutation, Vaccinated and immune sera, neutralization, primates
Summary of Study: Vaccinated NHPs using the nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP vaccine platform encoding four differentSARS-CoV-2 spike immunogens generate antibody responses that not only recognize the G614 mutation that has taken over the pandemic, but also have stronger titers of neutralization to this virus variant.
References: PMID: 33306985/doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.11.012
Contact Info: Drew Weissman (no contact information)
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193131282030634X?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, inactivated vaccines, antibody-dependent enhancement, immunopathology, primates
Summary of Study: Results show that in the absence of cellular immunity, passive infusion of subneutralizing or nonneutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies could still provide some level of protection against infection upon challenge, and no low-level antibody-enhanced infection was observed.
References: PMID: 34736354 / doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2002670
Contact Info: Qihan Li: liqihan@imbcams.com.cn; Longding Liu: longdingliu@imbcams.com.cn; Cunbao Liu: cunbao_liu@163.com
URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2021.2002670
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID; Emory University Vaccine Center; BIOQUAL; Moderna; Johns Hopkins University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, variants of concern, booster, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: An additional, delayed boost with mRNA vaccines matched to either the original vaccine strain or to the heterologous challenge strain can have a marked and sustained effect on increaseing the breadth of neutralization against all VOCs tested and protection in both the lower and upper airways against the beta variant.
References: PMID: 34672695 / doi: 10.1126/science.abl8912
Contact Info: Robert Seder: rseder@mail.nih.gov; Barney Graham: bgraham@nih.gov
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl8912?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: University of Washington; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Stanford University School of Medicine; Institut Pasteur and CNRS UMR 3569; New Iberia Research Center and Department of Biology; Washington National Primate Research Center; University of Texas at Austin; GSK; Humabs Biomed SA; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation\
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, vaccine design, spike glycoprotein, receptor-binding domain, self-assembling nanoparticle, sarbecovirus, primates
Summary of Study: This study provides proof of the principle that multivalent sarbecovirus RBD-NPs induce heterotypic protection and motivates advancing such broadly protective sarbecovirus vaccines to the clinic.
References: PMID: 34619077 / doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.015
Contact Info: Neil King: neil@ipd.uw.edu; David Veesler: dveesler@uw.edu
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009286742101062X?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, LSU Health Science Center, Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg, and more
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, endotheliopathy, inflammation, primates, mice
Summary of Study: In addition to pneumocytes, SARS-CoV-2 also directly infects mature vascular endothelial cells in vivo and ex vivo which may contribute to cardiovascular complications in SARS-CoV-2 infection, including multipleorgan failure.
References: PMID: 34307198 / doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.701278
Contact Info: Xuebin Qin: xqin2@tulane.edu; Suleyman Ergun: sueleyman.erguen@uni-wuerzburg.de
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8292147/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Peking University; Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd.; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, ACE2-blocking monoclonal antibody, receptor-binding domain, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: The ACE2-blocking MAb represents a broadly promising therapeutic candidate against emergence, re-emergence, and future zoonotic transmission events from SARSr-CoVs and variants.
References: PMID: 34404805 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25331-x
Contact Info: Wenjie Tan: tanwj@ivdc.chinacdc.cn
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25331-x