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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:
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Division of Pathogenesis and Disease Regulation, Department of Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenicity, primates
Summary of Study: Neutralizing antibody-dependent and -independent immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 in cynomolgus macaques
References: doi:10.1101/2020.08.18.256446
Contact Info: [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.18.256446v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, nonhuman primate, neutralizing antibodies
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were inoculated intratracheally with SARS-CoV-2/WH-09/human/2020/CHN. Neutralizing antibodies against SARS CoV-2 might protect rhesus macaques which have undergone an initial infection from reinfection during early recovery days.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.03.13.990226; Preprint
Contact Info: Bao L, et al.; correspondence to Chuan Qin ([email protected])
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.13.990226v2
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Oregon National Primate Research Center, Harvard, and others
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, vaccine, nonhuman primate
Summary of Study: A series of DNA vaccine candidates expressing different forms of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein were evaluated in rhesus macaques. Vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibody titers correlated with protective efficacy, demonstrating vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 in NHPs.
References: doi: 10.1126/science.abc6284; PMID: 32434945
Contact Info: Yu, et al.; correspondence to Dan H. Barouch ([email protected]
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32434945/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Institute of Medical Biology, Yunnan Province, China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, nasal route of infection. T cells, primates
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the nasal route. Data suggested that T cell response and cytokine/chemokine changes in lungs should be considered as evaluation parameters for COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development (in addition to observation of virus shedding and pathological analysis).
References: PMID: 33180882/doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008949
Contact Info: Zhanlong He: [email protected] & Qihan Li: [email protected]
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008949
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of Texas Medical Branch
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, primates
Summary of Study: African green monkeys support robust SARS-CoV-2 replication and develop pronounced respiratory disease, which may more accurately reflect human COVID-19 cases than other nonhuman primate species.
References: PMID: 33235385/doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-00835-8
Contact Info: Thomas Geisbert: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-00835-8
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Ministry of Health
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, viral transmission, nonhuman primate
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2/WH-09/human/2020/CHN via conjunctival, intratracheal, and intragastric routes. Results suggest that conjunctiva is a potential portal for viral transmission; virus was also detected after IT inoculation. No virus was detected after IG inoculation.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.03.13.990036; Preprint
Contact Info: Deng W, et al.; correspondence to Chuan Qin ([email protected])
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.13.990036v2.full
Coronavirus Investigated: MERS-CoV
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: MERS-CoV, animal model, antiviral, remdesivir, therapy.
Summary of Study: The efficacy of prophylactic and therapeutic remdesivir treatment was tested in a rhesus macaque model of MERS-CoV infection. Prophylactic remdesivir treatment completely prevented MERS-CoV-induced clinical disease; therapeutic remdesivir treatment also provided a clear clinical benefit. The data support testing the efficacy of remdesivir treatment in the context of a MERS clinical trial.
References: doi: 10.1073/pnas.1922083117; PMID: 32054787
Contact Info: de Wit E, et al.; Correspondence to Emmie de Wit ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32054787/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Key Laboratory of Animal Immunology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Immunology, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2
Summary of Study: Authors conducted sequence and structural analyses of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) from different species, which sheds some light on cross-species receptor usage of 2019-nCoV.
References: doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.02.013
Contact Info: Li R, et al.; correspondence to Gaiping Zhang ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32092392/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, focus forming assay, viral growth kinetics
Summary of Study: Characterization of cells susceptible to SARS-COV-2 and methods for detection of neutralizing antibody by focus forming assay
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.08.20.259838
Contact Info: E. Taylor Stone et al; Amelia K. Pinto, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.20.259838v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, spike trimers, neutralizing antibodies, mice, primates
Summary of Study: Adjuvanted protein intramuscular immunization with SARS-CoV-2 spike trimers, stabilized in prefusion conformation, results in potent antibody responses in mice and rhesus macaque.
References: doi:10.1101/2020.07.31.228486
Contact Info: Mandolesi, Marco; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.31.228486v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, vaccine
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques vaccinated intramuscularly with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 showed humoral and cellular immune response. The authors observed a significantly reduced viral load in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and respiratory tract tissues of vaccinated animals challenged with SARS-CoV-2 compared with control animals, and no pneumonia was observed in the vaccinated animals.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.05.13.093195; Preprint; PMID: 32511340
Contact Info: van Doremalen N, et al.; correspondence to Vincent Munster ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511340/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Baruch S. Blumberg Institute
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, animal ACE2, receptor, entry, furin cleavage, animal hosts
Summary of Study: Receptor activity of ACE2 was examined in 14 mammal species, including the rhesus macaque. Rhesus exhibited the highest ACE2 receptor activity.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.04.19.048710; Preprint
Contact Info: Zhao X, et al.; correspondence to Xuesen Zhao ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32661139/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and more
Keywords: scRNA-seq, interferon, ISG, ACE2, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, influenza, non-human primate, human, mouse
Summary of Study: The authors analyzed human, macaque, and mouse scRNA-seq data sets across health and disease to uncover putative targets of SARS-CoV-2 among tissue-resident cell subsets. Data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could exploit species-specific interferon-driven upregulation of ACE2, a tissue-protective mediator during lung injury, to enhance infection.
References: doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.035; PMID: 32413319
Contact Info: Ziegler CGK, et al.; correspondence to Jose Ordovas-Montanes ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32413319/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Peking Union Medical College, Yunnan, China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Gastrointestinal Tract, primates
Summary of Study: Both intranasal and intragastric inoculation with SARS-CoV-2 caused pneumonia and GI dysfunction in the rhesus macaque model. Inflammatory cytokines are possible connections for the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 between the respiratory and digestive systems.
References: PMID: 33307034/doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.12.001
Contact Info: Xiaozhong Peng: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001650852035527X?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: SoLongevity Research, Milan, Italy
Keywords: SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, cross-reactive immunity, pathogenesis, primates
Summary of Study: Review Article discussing the potential of cross-reactive immunity to drive the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 and its implications for current efforts to develop immune-based therapies and vaccines.
References: PMID: 33178193/doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.567710
Contact Info: Alberto Beretta: [email protected]
URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.567710/full
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pre-screening strategies, primates
Summary of Study: Pre-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 affects biomarker responses in animal models, highlighting a need for robust pre-screening protocols prior to medical countermeasure studies.
References: doi:10.1101/2020.07.06.189803
Contact Info: Keersten M. Ricks;[email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.06.189803v2
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Wistar Institute, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Bioqual
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, DNA vaccine, spike protein, primates
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were inoculated with an intradermal (ID)- delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike DNA vaccine, INO-4800, inducing a T cell response and neutralizing antibody response. T and B cell responses after challenge with SARS-CoV-2 results in lower viral loads.
References: doi:10.1101/2020.07.28.225649
Contact Info: Ami Patel; [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.28.225649v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Zongshan School of Medicine, Guangdong, China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Nanoparticle Vaccines, mice and primates
Summary of Study: The nanoparticle vaccination of rhesus macaques induced neutralizing antibodies, and T and B cell responses prior to boost immunization; these responses persisted for more than three months. RBD- and HR-based nanoparticles thus present a promising vaccination approach against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
References: PMID: 33275896/doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.11.015
Contact Info: Hui Zhang: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761320305021?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: BGi (China) and others
Keywords: single-cell transcriptomics, nonhuman primate, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, TMPRSS2, kidney, interleukin 6, STAT transcription factors, immune cell exhaustion
Summary of Study: A single-cell transcriptome atlas of nine monkey tissues was used to study COVID-19. ACE2+TMPRSS2+ epithelial cells of lung, kidney and liver were shown to be targets for SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 correlation analysis identifies IDO2 and ANPEP as potential therapeutic opportunities.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.04.10.022103; Preprint
Contact Info: Han L, et al.; correspondence to Xun Xu ([email protected])
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.10.022103v2.abstract
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: SWNPRC/Regeneron
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibody therapy, primates
Summary of Study: REGN-COV2, a cocktail of two potent neutralizing antibodies (REGN10987+REGN10922) can greatly reduce virus load in lower and upper airway and decrease virus induced pathological sequelae when administered prophylactically or therapeutically.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.08.02.233320
Contact Info: Baum, A., et al; correspondence to C.A. Kyratsous, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.02.233320v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: crab-eating macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, serial computed tomography, positron emission tomography, FDG
Summary of Study: Crab-eating macaques were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 via direct bilateral primary intrabronchial instillation, which resulted in mild-moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.05.14.096727; PMID: 32511338
Contact Info: Finch CL, et al.; correspondence to Thomas Friedrich ([email protected])

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511338/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center
Keywords: pathogenicity, pneumonia, rhesus macaque model, SARS-CoV-2
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 caused more severe interstitial pneumonia in old monkeys than that in young monkeys. Rhesus macaque models infected with SARS-CoV-2 provided insight into the pathogenic mechanism and facilitated the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
References: doi: 10.1002/ame2.12108
Contact Info: Yu P, et al.; correspondence to Chuan Qin ([email protected]) and Wenjie Tan ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32318665/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: National Institute of Biologicals, Noida, India
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, many species, review
Summary of Study: This review article finds the rhesus macaque most closely resembles the SARS-CoV-2 infection observed in humans.
References: PMID: 33283030/doi: 10.1007/s13337-020-00637-4
Contact Info: Suresh Kumar: [email protected]
URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13337-020-00637-4
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, airborne transmission, primates
Summary of Study: Development of a Coronavirus Disease 2019 Nonhuman Primate Model Using Airborne Exposure
References: doi:10.1101/2020.06.26.174128
Contact Info: [email protected], [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.26.174128v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, marmosets
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, nonhuman primate, viral shedding, viral genome
Summary of Study: Old world and new world monkeys were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2. Rhesus was most susceptible to infection, followed by cynomolgus and marmoset.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.04.08.031807; Preprint
Contact Info: Lu S, et al.; correspondence to Xiaozhong Peng ([email protected])
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.031807v1.abstract
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, animal models
Summary of Study: African green monkeys were infected with a low passage isolate of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2/INMII-Isolate/2020/Italy, the first V clade virus to be experimentally inoculated into NHPs). AGMs mimic several aspects of human disease and should thus be considered to conduct pathogenesis studies and to screen potential vaccines and therapeutics.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.05.17.100289; PMID: 32511377
Contact Info: Woolsey C, et al.; correspondence to Thomas W. Geisbert ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511377/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, animal models
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 (isolate nCoV-WA1-2020) via a combination of intratracheal, intranasal, ocular, and oral routes. Outcome established that the rhesus macaque recapitulates moderate disease observed in the majority of human cases.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.03.21.001628; PMID: 32511299
Contact Info: Munster VJ, et al.; correspondence to Emmie de Wit ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511299/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China
Keywords: SARS, ACE2, receptor-binding domain, pneumonia
Summary of Study: The authors analyzed 82 representative ACE2 sequences from the 1000 sequences with the closest homology to the human ACE2 protein to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 natural and intermediate hosts, as well as susceptible animals. Results suggest that several NHPs may be intermediate hosts and most are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.
References: doi: 10.26434/chemrxiv.12057996.v1; Preprint
Contact Info: Wu C, et al.; correspondence to Hui Li ([email protected])
URL: https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr138914
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of Oxford
Keywords: coronavirus, COVID-19, MERS, SARS, vaccine
Summary of Study: The author reviewed the past and ongoing vaccine development efforts for clinically relevant coronavirus strains with the intention that this information helps in the development of effective and safe vaccines for COVID-19.
References: doi: 10.1007/s40121-020-00300-x
Contact Info: Padron-Regalado E; correspondence to Eriko Padron-Regalado ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32328406/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, crab-eating macaques, marmosets
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Primate Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, three species of primates comparison
Summary of Study: Three species were inoculated (new world: intratracheally, intranasally, and on conjunctiva; old world: intranasally) and showed varying clinical and pathological signs of the disease. M. mulatta was the most suspectable followed by Callithrix jacchus and Macaca fascicularis.
References: doi:10.1101/2020.04.08.031807
Contact Info: Lu, Shuaiyao; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.031807v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, crab-eating macaques, marmosets
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, receptor binding, 215 vertebrate species
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein predicted to form complexes with host receptor protein orthologues from a broad range of mammals
References: doi:10.1101/2020.05.01.072371
Contact Info: CA Orengo: [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.01.072371v6
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of California, San Francisco
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, animal models
Summary of Study: The authors reviewed a variety of animal models, including NHPs. Individual NHP studies are represented elsewhere in this document.
References: doi: 10.1111/bph.15143; PMID: 32462701
Contact Info: Cleary SJ, et al.; correspondence to Clive Page ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32462701/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: coronavirus, remdesivir, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, animal models, nonhuman primate
Summary of Study: The authors tested the efficacy of remdesivir treatment in a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.04.15.043166
Contact Info: Williamson BN, et al.; correspondence to Emmie de Wit ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516797/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Jiaotong Univ. Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, phylogeny and expression pattern of ACE2; variety of animals, including primates
Summary of Study: Using bioinformatics tools to screen for the presence of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in a variety of tissues in various animals, the authors found that the tissue presence of this enzyme marks the tissues vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The pattern of infection in cynomolgus macaques was similar to that in humans.
References: PMID: 33364494/doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05725
Contact Info: Enqi Liu: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020325688?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: National Infection Service, Public Health England (PHE)
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, virus replication, lung histopathology, 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, resembling the mild clinical cases of COVID-19 in humans.
References: doi:10.1101/2020.09.17.301093
Contact Info: Francisco J. Salguero et al; Miles W. Carroll, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.17.301093v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling, mucus, primates
Summary of Study: Findings potentially explain the silent hypoxia formation in COVID-19 patients, and suggest a possible intervention strategy by targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway.
References: PMID: 33159154/doi: 10.1038/s41422-020-00435-z
Contact Info: Bo Huang: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-020-00435-z
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, convalescent plasma, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
Summary of Study: Two neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (CA1 and CB6 MAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 were isolated and tested in vitro. CB6 showed stronger neutralizing activity and was further tested in rhesus macaques at both prophylactic and treatment settings. Treatment reduced virus titers and significant protection was seen in the prophylactic group.
References: doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2381-y; PMID: 32454512
Contact Info: Shi R, et al.; correspondence to Fu-sheng Wang ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32454512/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane NPRC
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, immune response kinetics, blood and lungs, primates
Summary of Study: Investigation of immune events from the acute state up to four weeks post SARS-CoV-2 infection unravels cellular mechanisms of COVID-19 and suggests that NHPs may be appropriate models to test immune therapies.
References: PMID: 33247138/doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19967-4
Contact Info: M. Vaccari: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19967-4
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Sinovac Biotech, Beijing, China
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, vaccine, nonhuman primate
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were immunized three times via the intramuscular route with medium or high doses of PiCoVacc three weeks before virus challenge. The high dose provided complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge; neither infection enhancement of immunopathological exacerbation was observed.
References: doi: 10.1126/science.abc1932; PMID: 32376603
Contact Info: Gao Q, et al.; correspondence to Chuan Qin ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32376603/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Harvard Medical School
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, purified IgG, primates
Summary of Study: Adoptive transfer of purified IgG from convalescent macaques protects naive recipient rhesus macaques against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in a dose dependent fashion.
References: PMID: 33276369/doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-03041-6
Contact Info: Dan  Barouch: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03041-6
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: pigtail macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Washington NPRC
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, two-component nanoparticle vaccine, mice and primates
Summary of Study: The study showed that two-component self-assembling SARS-CoV-2 RBC nanoparticle vaccine candidates elicit potent neutralizing Ab responses targeting multiple distinct RBT epitopes.
References: PMID: 33160446/doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.043
Contact Info: David Veesler: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867420314501?via%3Dihub=
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: TNPRC
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: Four, aged, AGMs were exposed by two routes to SARS-CoV-2 isolate USA-WA1/2020. The study reports fatal ARDS in two of the infected animals, demonstrating pathological lesions and disease similar to severe COVID-19 in humans. Three of the four infected AGMs showed cytokine storm, and all four animals showed increased levels of IL-6 in plasma. These results suggest the AGM is a useful model to study disease pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.06.18.157933
Contact Info: Robert V. Blair, et al; correspondence to Jay Rappaport, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.18.157933v2
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, olive baboons, marmosets
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Southwest National Primate Research Center
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to acute infection with dynamic cellular and inflammatory flux in the lung that varies across nonhuman primate species
References: doi:10.1101/2020.06.05.136481
Contact Info: Dhiraj Kumar Singh et al; Deepak Kaushal, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.136481v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane NPRC
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, aged animals, primates
Summary of Study: Data indicate that both African green monkeys and Rhesus macaques are capable of modeling SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggest that aged African green monkeys may be useful for modeling severe disease manifestations, including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
References: PMID: 33171111/doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.10.016
Contact Info: Robert Blair: [email protected]
URL: https://ajp.amjpathol.org/article/S0002-9440(20)30497-1/fulltext
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: pigtail macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, vaccine, receptor binding domain, mice, primates
Summary of Study: Prime-boost protein subunit vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are highly immunogenic in mice and macaques
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.09.01.278630
Contact Info: Hyon-Xhi Tan et al; Adam K Wheatley, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.01.278630v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medicine Science & Peking Union Medical College
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine, immune response
Summary of Study: Immunization of rhesus macaques with a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine elicited effective immunity with indexes of humoral and cellular reactions.
References: doi: 10.1101/2020.08.04.235747
Contact Info: Hongbo Chen, et al; correspondence to Quhan Li, [email protected] or Longding Liu, [email protected]
URL: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.04.235747v1
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Oregon National Primate Research Center, Harvard, and others
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, protective immunity
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were inoculated intranasally and intratracheally with SARS-CoV-2, which induced humoral and cellular immune responses and provided protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 rechallenge. These data raise the possibility that immunologic approaches to the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 may be effective.
References: doi: 10.1126/science.abc4776; PMID: 32434946
Contact Info: Chandrashekar A, et al.; correspondence to Dan H. Barouch ([email protected])

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32434946/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety
Keywords: coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, receptor sequence binding
Summary of Study: Similarities of receptor sequence binding to 2019-nCoV between humans and animals suggest a low species barrier for transmission of the virus to farm animals. Authors propose, based on the One Health model, that veterinarians and animal specialists should be involved in a cross-disciplinary collaboration in the fight against this epidemic.
References: doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.02.008
Contact Info: Sun J, et al.; correspondence to Jiumeng Sun ([email protected]) and Michael Veit ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32359479/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, therapeutics, the lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, primates
Summary of Study: In both mouse and rhesus macaque models, viral replication and histopathological injuries caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection are significantly inhibited by the administration of the lipoglycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin. These results suggest that dalbavancin is a promising anti-COVID-19 drug candidate.
References: PMID: 33262453/doi: 10.1038/s41422-020-00450-0
Contact Info: Ren Lai: [email protected]; Yong-Tang Zheng: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-020-00450-0
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2020
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: University of Erasmus, Netherlands
Keywords: coronavirus, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, animal models
Summary of Study: The authors' study shows that SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19-like disease in macaques and provides a new model to test preventive and therapeutic strategies.
References: doi: 10.1126/science.abb7314
Contact Info: Rockx B, et al.; correspondence to Barry Rockx ([email protected])
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32303590/