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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: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Universite de Paris, Institut Pasteur and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mathematical model, viral dynamics, immune response, viral clearance, primates
Summary of Study: Results provide estimates of SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetic parameters in an experimental model of mild infection and they provide means to assess the efficacy of future antiviral treatments.
References: PMID: 33730053 / doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008785
Contact Info: Antonio Goncalves: [email protected]
URL: https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008785
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, marmosets
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Southwest NPRC
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, young and old animals, Acute respiratory distress, 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: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-020-00841-4
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: prevention
NPRC/Institute: Tulane National primate Research Center; Tulane School of Medicine; Duke University Medical Center
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, pharmacokinetics, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: A combination of two high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; C144-LS and C135-LS) effectively blocks development of COVID-19 in the rhesus disease model and accelerates the prospect of clinical studies with this effective antibody combination.
References: PMID: 34869063 / doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.753444
Contact Info: Chad Roy: [email protected]
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8637877/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Harvard Medical School; CureVac AG; Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Bioqual; Washington University School of Medicine; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mRNA vaccine, immunogenicity, protective efficacy, primates
Summary of Study: Optimization of non-coding regions can greatly improve the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a non-modified mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in nonhuman primates.
References: PMID: 34794169 / doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-04231-6
Contact Info: Dan Barouch: [email protected]; Susanne Rauch: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04231-6
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tsukuba, Japan; Osaka University; Gunma University; The University of Tokyo; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mie University Graduate School of Medicine
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pathogenicity, old animals, pathology, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: The COVID-19 cynomolgus monkey model reflects the pathophysiology of humans and would be useful for elucidating the pathophysiology and developing therapeutic agents and vaccines.
References: PMID: 34625475 / doi: 10.1073/pnas.2104847118
Contact Info: Yasuhiro Yasutomi: [email protected]
URL: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/43/e2104847118.long
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Harvard Medical School; Janssen Vaccines & Prevention; Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine; Bioqual; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus vectored COVID-19 vaccine, virus transduction, primates
Summary of Study: A single immunization with relatively low dose of Ad26.COV2.S effectively protected against SARS-CV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques, although a higher vaccine dose may be required for protection in the upper respiratory tract.
References: PMID: 34133941 / doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.05.040
Contact Info: Dan Barouch: [email protected]
URL: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00693-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen Third People's Hospital; Guangzhou Medical University; UT Southwestern Medical Center; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, fusion protein vaccine, immune response, rodents and primates
Summary of Study: the pan-epitope modified human I-R-F (I-P-R-F) vaccine provides rapid and complete protection throughout the upper and lower respiratory tracts against a high-dose SARS-C0V-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.
References: PMID: 34267349 / doi: 10.1038/s41422-021-00531-8
Contact Info: Yang-Xin Fu: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-021-00531-8
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Milad Daro Noor Pharmaceutical (MDNP) Co., Iran; Stem Cell Technology Research Center (STRC); Imam Hussein University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, inactivated vaccine candidate, immunization, immune response, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, primates
Summary of Study: FAKHRAVAC, a purified inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine candidate induced neutralizing antibodies in Balb/c mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rhesus macaques.
References: PMID: 34835202 / doi: 10.3390/vaccines9111271
Contact Info: Ahmad Karimi Rahjerdi: [email protected] or [email protected]
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/11/1271
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Eli Lilly and Co., AbCellera Biologics, UNC - Chapel Hill, University of Texas Medical Branch, and others.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, monoclonal antibodies, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: LY-CoV555 (aka bamlanivimab), a potent anti-spike neutralizing antibody from a hospitalized, convalescent patient with COVID-19 was followed in a pharmacokinetic study in cynomolgus monkeys and in a challenge model in rhesus macaques, where it showed impressive results. Currently in clinical testing.
References: PMID: 33820835 / doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf1906
Contact Info: Bryan Jones: [email protected]; Ester Falconer: [email protected]
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abf1906?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rf…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Washington Univ, SW National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, transcriptional signatures, juvenile and old animals, lungs, primates
Summary of Study: Transcriptional profiles of lungs from juvenile and old macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2 were interrogated, providing fundamentally new information on the host response in young and old macaques. This model provides relevant insights necessary for further vaccine and therapeutic development for COVID-19.
References: PMID: 33674719 / doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01829-4
Contact Info: Makedonka Mitreva: [email protected]; Deepak Kaushal: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-01829-4
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Hebei Agricultural University; Military Veterinary Research Institute
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, aerosol particles, virus transduction, primates
Summary of Study: Most SARS-CoV-2 aerosol particles exhaled by the cynomolgus monkeys in this study were smaller (<4.7 um), suggesting that aerosols might be a route for SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
References: PMID: 34152969 / doi: 10.3201/eid2707.203948
Contact Info: Yuwei Gao: [email protected]
URL: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/7/20-3948_article
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Nankai University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, monoclonal antibodies, structure analysis, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: The engineered antibody P4A1 (originally identified from COVID-19 convalescent patients) exhibits an optimized pharmacokinetic and safety profile, and results in complete viral clearance in a rhesus monkey model of COVID-19 following a single injection.
References: PMID: 33976198 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22926-2
Contact Info: Yu Guo: [email protected]; Hongkai Zhang: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22926-2
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neurotropism, central neural system, virus transduction, primates
Summary of Study: The olfactory route is a potential way for SARS-CoV-2 to invade the central nervous system of rhesus monkeys.
References: PMID: 33895780 / doi: 10.1038/s41392-021-00591-7
Contact Info: Xiaozhong Peng: [email protected]; Shuaiyao Lu: [email protected]; Hongqi Liu: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-021-00591-7
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: ORIP/NIH
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, resources, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: Because the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for rhesus macaques biomedical researchers will need to consider alternative NHP models for COVID-19 research and for other biomedical research studies. The authors suggest alternatives.
References: PMID: 33785923 / doi: 10.1038/s41684-021-00755-6
Contact Info: Michael Chang: chang,[email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-021-00755-6
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques, pigtail macaques, african green monkeys, squirrel monkeys
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIAID
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, pulmonary histopathologic characteristics, immunohistochemistry, species comparison, primates
Summary of Study: Histopathology does not appear to be a superior readout for interpretation of vaccine and therapeutic evaluations in the NHPs studied. The recommendation of which NHP is a superior model should be based on virology data as well as further work on genetic factors that contribute to significant disease.
References: PMID: 34963391 / doi: 10.1177/03009858211067468
Contact Info: Chad Clancy: [email protected]
URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03009858211067468?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing Medical University; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Jiangsu Rec-biotechnology Col Ltd.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibodies, immunization, spike protein, immunogenicity, rabbits, primates
Summary of Study: The immunogenic data derived from immunization with a combination of SARS-CoV-2 RBD and NTD demonstrate the feasibility of eliciting robust targeted immune profiles by using antibody-guided vaccine design.
References: PMID: 34676098 / doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwab053
Contact Info: Xiangxi Wang: [email protected]; Cheng-Feng Qin: [email protected]; Feng-Cai Zhu: [email protected]
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8083607/
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Duke University; UNC Chapel Hill; 3M Corporate Research Materials Laboratory; Infectious Disease Research Institute; California National Primate Research Center; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mRNA vaccine, infants, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: Infant rhesus macaques were vaccinated with an mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, similar to the Moderna vaccine, or an S protein plus TLR7/8 agonist-based vaccine. Both vaccines induced profound induction of neutralizing antibody titers, memory B cells responses, and SARS-CV-2 specific CD4+ T cell responses that were long-lasting, all while limiting vaccine related toxicity.
References: PMID: 34131024 / doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abj3684
Contact Info: Kristina De Paris: [email protected]
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abj3684?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; Chinese Academy of Sciences
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, mRNA vaccine, nanoparticles, immune response, pathology, mice and primates
Summary of Study: Using both mouse and rhesus macaque SARS-CoV-2 challenge models, this study demonstrates strong immunogenicity, protective ability and high safety profiles of SW0123 (an LPP-based mRA vaccine), and supports this promising candidate for future clinical evaluation.
References: PMID: 34059617 / doi: 10.1038/s41392-021-00634-z
Contact Info: Wenjie Tan: [email protected]; Xiaozhong Peng: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-021-00634-z
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: UC Davis, National Institutes of Health (Pakistan), California National Primate Research Center, New York State Department of Health
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, multiplex test, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: The authors report the development and validation of a multiplex bead assay to simultaneously and specifically detect antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and common human coronavirus strains (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1). Multiplex serological assays enabled the investigation of the dynamics of immune responses in COVID-19 patients.
References: PMID: 34242356 / doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254367
Contact Info: Imran Khan: [email protected]
URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254367
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hynnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, T cells, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: Six peptides were defined as the most frequently recognized T cell epitopes, and overlapped to produce three main long epitopes. This finding may provide a convenient pattern in the detection of T cell responses for the development of new vaccines and provides a novel target in the diagnosis of patients with COVID-19.
References: PMID: 33980582 / doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000922
Contact Info: Wei Cun: [email protected]
URL: https://www.jimmunol.org/content/206/11/2527.long
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: University of Ottawa; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Institut du Cancer de Montreal; University of Calgary
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, attenuated vaccinia virus vector, spike receptor binding domain, immune response, mice, primates
Summary of Study: Robust immune responses and protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants were demonstrated after only a single dose of a temperature stable vaccine candidate (TOH-Vac1) that uses a replication-competent, attenuated vaccinia virus as a vector to express a membrane-tethered spike receptor binding domain antigen.
References: PMID: 34687845 / doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.10.008
Contact Info: John Bell: [email protected]; Carolina Ilkow: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525001621005153?via%3Dihub
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Shandong Boan Biotech Co., National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Shuimu Biosciences, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibodies, structural analysis, primates
Summary of Study: CA521^FALA is a promising antibody that reacts with SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to strongly neutralize its activity.
References: PMID: 33893388 / doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02029-w
Contact Info: Lan Wang: [email protected]; Yong-Qiang Deng: [email protected]; Changlin Dou: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-02029-w
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Tsinghua University; Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals (Suzhou)
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, B cells, Toll-like receptor, preclinical study, virus-like particle, pathogen-like antigen, primates
Summary of Study: A PLA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate could potentially serve as an alternative option for coping with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
References: PMID: 34723223 / doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100448
Contact Info: Zhaolin Hua: [email protected]; Hongyu Deng: [email protected]; Baidong Hou: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379121003165?via%3Dihub
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: ImmunityBio, Inc.; IosBio; Battelle Biomedical Research Center; NantKwest, Inc.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, dual-antigen vaccine, adenovirus vector, immune response, virus replication, primates
Summary of Study: In the rhesus macaque model, SC prime vaccination with two oral boosts with the dual-antigen hAd5 S-Fusion + N-ETSD vaccine provides protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection for both nasal and lung airways.
References: PMID: 34603305 / doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.729837
Contact Info: Patrick Soon-Shiong: [email protected]
URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.729837/full
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: University of Oxford, Public Health England, The Pirbright Institute
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, vaccine, immune response, pathology, primates
Summary of Study: Lung pathology caused by SARS-CoV-2 mediated pneumonia is reduced in rhesus macaques by prior vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, which induced neutralising antibody responses after a single intramuscular administration.
References: PMID: 34312487 / doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02443-0
Contact Info: Sarah Gilbert: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-02443-0
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: NIAID; University of Colorado School of Medicine
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, role of T cells in recovery, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: Results suggest that T cells are not critical for recovery from acute SARS-CoV-2 infections in the rhesus macaque model (which develop only mild COVID-19, similar to most humans), pointing toward B cell responses and antibodies as the essential mediators of protection from re-exposure.
References: PMID: 34311582 / doi: 10.1128/mBio.01503-21
Contact Info: Kim Hasenkrug: [email protected]
URL: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.01503-21
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 candidate, humoral and cellular immune responses, primates
Summary of Study: Prime boost vaccination of rhesus macaques with 4 ug of CV07050101 elicited neither a uniform nor a robust immune response. However, vaccination using 8 ug of the same vaccine was protective in an NHP challenge study.
References: PMID: 34452509 / doi: 10.3390/v13081645
Contact Info: Vincent Munster: [email protected]
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1645
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Sichuan University; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, review of the current animal models, pathology, immune response, use for the testing therapeutics and vaccines, mice, hamsters, nonhuman primates, and ferrets
Summary of Study: A variety of animal models have been developed to demonstrate the transmission, pathogenesis, and immunology induced by SARS-CoV-2 and to evaluate the immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs and vaccines against COVID-19. None of these models can completely recapitulate the changes seen in COVID-19 patients. It may be beneficial for investigators to apply appropriate options of animal models depending on the scientific goals.
References: PMID: 34909757 / doi: 10.1002/mco2.98
Contact Info: Shuaiyao Lu: [email protected]
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8662225/pdf/MCO2-2-548.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: [email protected]; Jiangning Liu: [email protected]; Youhua Xie: [email protected]; Zhongyu Hu: [email protected]
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: [email protected]; Diane Bolton: [email protected]
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: [email protected]; Yong-tang Zheng: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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 variants of concern.
References: PMID: 34417590 / doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-02021-0
Contact Info: Barney Graham: [email protected]; Robert Seder: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2044
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: multiple species
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: ORIP, NIH
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, the use of primates for COVID research, animal resources
Summary of Study: The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for specific-pathogen-free (SFP) NHPs for development of vaccines and therapeutics. Non-SPF animals, which are available in greater numbers and include well-characterized primate species, should be considered in lieu of limited SPF animals for appropriate research studies.
References: doi: 10.1038/s41684-021-00810-2
Contact Info: Miguel Contreras: miguel.contreras
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-021-00810-2
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Statens Serum Institute; Robert Koch Institute; BIOQUAL; University of Southern Denmark
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, DNA plasmid vaccine, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: The candidate plasmid DNA vaccine encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is immunogenic in different models and confers protection against lung infection in nonhuman primates. Further evaluation of this DNA vaccine candidate in clinical trials is warranted.
References: PMID: 34930909 / doi: 10.1038/s41541-021-00419-z
Contact Info: Anders Fomsgaard: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-021-00419-z
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: prevention
NPRC/Institute: Universite Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases; University of Amsterdam; Universite de Paris, INSERM, IAME; University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; Galveston National Laboratory; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; The Scripps Research Institute; Duke Human Vaccine Institute & Department of Surgery; Nexelis; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Institut Pasteur; Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibody, prophylactic, pathology, mice, hamsters, primates
Summary of Study: COVA1-18, a neutralizing antibody highly potent against the B.1.1.7 isolate, has a strong antiviral activity in three preclinical models and could be a valuable candidate for further clinical evaluation.
References: PMID: 34671037 / doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26354-0
Contact Info: Rogier Sanders: [email protected]; Marit van Gils: [email protected]; Roger Le Grand: [email protected]
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26354-0
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Pasteur Institute of Iran; Amirabad Virology Laboratory; Tarbiat Modares University; University of Tehran; Islamic Azad University; Hamadan University of Medical Sciences; Darou Pakhsh Pharmaceutical; Arena Diagnostic; and others.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, inactivated whole-virus vaccine, safety, immune response, guinea pig, rabbit, mice, primates
Summary of Study: Rhesus macaques were immunised with the two-dose schedule of 5 or 3 ug of the B1V1-CovIran vaccine and showed highly efficient protection against 10^4 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2 intratracheal challenge compared with the control group.
References: PMID: 34699647 / doi: 10.1002/rmv.2305
Contact Info: Reza Aalizadeh: [email protected]; Hasan Jalili: [email protected]
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rmv.2305
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: Harvard Medical School; Universite paris-Saclay/Inserm/Cea; Pereman School of Medicine; Novartis Gene Therapies; Boston University School of Medicine; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, AAV-vaccine candidates, immune response, mice, primates
Summary of Study: Studies of the AAV-based vaccine candidate AC1 support its potential to protect from COVID-19 disease and infection from a single-dose immunization; may lead to highly durable immunogenicity; and is stable at ambient temperature for storage for several weeks. The combination of these WHO-specific key attributes have not been met by any of the currently approved vaccines. Continued development of second-generation vaccine candidates such at AC1 is needed.
References: PMID: 34428428 / doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.08.002
Contact Info: Roger LeGrand: [email protected]; Luk Vandenberghe: [email protected]
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931312821003784?via%3Dihub
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: NIAID, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT< and Harvard, University of Duisburg-Essen, Harvard University, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, protein subunit vaccine, soluble prefusion-stabilized spike trimers, immune response, primates
Summary of Study: Soluble prefusion-stablized spike protein trimers (preS DTM) from SARS-CoV-2 were formulated with the adjuvant AS03 and administered twice to NHPs. Two days after challenge, vaccinated NHPs showed rapid control of viral replication in both the upper and lower airways. These data indicate that antibodies induced by the AS03-adjuvanted preS dTM vaccine were sufficient to mediate protection against SARS-CoV-2 in NHPs and that rapid anamnestic antibody responses in the lung may be a key mechanism for protection.
References: PMID: 34315825 / doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abi4547
Contact Info: Robert Seder: [email protected]
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi4547?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rf…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: The Catholic University of Korea, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, SK Science, Jeonbuk National University, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, immune response, mice and primates
Summary of Study: RBD-P2 + alum immunization elicits a robust neutralizing antibody response and provides complete or near-complete elimination of live SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. Additionally, findings provide insight into the potential use of the N protein in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
References: PMID: 34049881 / doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abg7156
Contact Info: Jae-Hwan Nam: [email protected]; Sang-Myeong Lee: [email protected]; Jung Joo Hong: [email protected]
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abg7156?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=o…
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species: african green monkeys, rhesus macaques
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review:
NPRC/Institute: Tulane University School of Medicine; Tulane National Primate Research Center; SE LA Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and others
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome and diabetes, chronic pancreatic dysfunction, primates
Summary of Study: SARS-CoV-2 infects pancreatic islet, ductal, and endothelial cells in male and female NHPs and humans with COVID-19. The long-term consequences of a fibrotic/thrombotic pancreas, such as chronic pancreatic exocrine dysfunction and late-onset diabetes, should be investigated as postacute sequelae of COVID-19.
References: PMID: 34241597 / doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.151551
Contact Info: Mirza Muhammad Fahd Qadir: [email protected]; Rudolf Bohm: [email protected]
URL: https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/151551
Coronavirus Investigated: SARS-CoV-2
NHP Species:
Year Published: 2021
Study Type/Review: vaccine
NPRC/Institute: YishengBio Co., Ltd.; Chinese Academy of Sciences; National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, S-trimer, PIKA, vaccine, virus genomic variants, primates
Summary of Study: In this study of non-human primates, PIKA adjuvanted S-trimer induced high SARS-CoV-2 neutralization titers and protected from virus replication in the lung following SARS-CoV-2 challenge.
References: PMID: 34766005 / doi: 10.1186/s43556-021-00054-z
Contact Info: Yi Zhang: [email protected]
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8475395/
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: [email protected]; Shingo Iwami: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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 robust 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: [email protected]; Qihan Li: [email protected]; Zhanlong He: [email protected]
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 animal 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: [email protected]
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajp.23340