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Frontiers in Immunology 2019NK-cell resistance to transduction is a major technical hurdle for developing NK-cell immunotherapy. By using Baboon envelope pseudotyped lentiviral vectors (BaEV-LVs)...
NK-cell resistance to transduction is a major technical hurdle for developing NK-cell immunotherapy. By using Baboon envelope pseudotyped lentiviral vectors (BaEV-LVs) encoding eGFP, we obtained a transduction rate of 23.0 ± 6.6% (mean ± SD) in freshly-isolated human NK-cells (FI-NK) and 83.4 ± 10.1% (mean ± SD) in NK-cells obtained from the NK-cell Activation and Expansion System (NKAES), with a sustained transgene expression for at least 21 days. BaEV-LVs outperformed Vesicular Stomatitis Virus type-G (VSV-G)-, RD114- and Measles Virus (MV)- pseudotyped LVs ( < 0.0001). mRNA expression of both BaEV receptors, ASCT1 and ASCT2, was detected in FI-NK and NKAES, with higher expression in NKAES. Transduction with BaEV-LVs encoding for CAR-CD22 resulted in robust CAR-expression on 38.3 ± 23.8% (mean ± SD) of NKAES cells, leading to specific killing of NK-resistant pre-B-ALL-RS4;11 cell line. Using a larger vector encoding a dual CD19/CD22-CAR, we were able to transduce and re-expand dual-CAR-expressing NKAES, even with lower viral titer. These dual-CAR-NK efficiently killed both CD19- and CD22-RS4;11 cells. Our results suggest that BaEV-LVs may efficiently enable NK-cell biological studies and translation of NK-cell-based immunotherapy to the clinic.
Topics: Animals; Gene Expression; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural; Lentivirus; Papio; Transduction, Genetic
PubMed: 31921138
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02873 -
ELife Jun 2023Ecological associations among gut bacteria are largely consistent across hosts in a population of wild baboons.
Ecological associations among gut bacteria are largely consistent across hosts in a population of wild baboons.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Papio; Bacteria
PubMed: 37358559
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.89468 -
Current Biology : CB Jun 2022Before visiting your local supermarket, do you write your food shopping list in the order you expect to encounter the items as you walk around, aisle by aisle? This way,...
Before visiting your local supermarket, do you write your food shopping list in the order you expect to encounter the items as you walk around, aisle by aisle? This way, you minimise your travel distance, saving time and effort. Many other animals do the same. Baboons (Papio ursinus) plan their foraging journeys to out-of-sight resources, moving in an efficient, goal-directed way, and nectar-collecting bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) use efficient travel routes when foraging on familiar resources.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Feeding Behavior; Plant Nectar
PubMed: 35728553
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.072 -
GeroScience Dec 2023Age and sex have a profound effect on cytosine methylation levels in humans and many other species. Here we analyzed DNA methylation profiles of 2400 tissues derived...
Age and sex have a profound effect on cytosine methylation levels in humans and many other species. Here we analyzed DNA methylation profiles of 2400 tissues derived from 37 primate species including 11 haplorhine species (baboons, marmosets, vervets, rhesus macaque, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutan, humans) and 26 strepsirrhine species (suborders Lemuriformes and Lorisiformes). From these we present here, pan-primate epigenetic clocks which are highly accurate for all primates including humans (age correlation R = 0.98). We also carried out in-depth analysis of baboon DNA methylation profiles and generated five epigenetic clocks for baboons (Olive-yellow baboon hybrid), one of which, the pan-tissue epigenetic clock, was trained on seven tissue types (fetal cerebral cortex, adult cerebral cortex, cerebellum, adipose, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle) with ages ranging from late fetal life to 22.8 years of age. Using the primate data, we characterize the effect of age and sex on individual cytosines in highly conserved regions. We identify 11 sex-related CpGs on autosomes near genes (POU3F2, CDYL, MYCL, FBXL4, ZC3H10, ZXDC, RRAS, FAM217A, RBM39, GRIA2, UHRF2). Low overlap can be observed between age- and sex-related CpGs. Overall, this study advances our understanding of conserved age- and sex-related epigenetic changes in primates, and provides biomarkers of aging for all primates.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Macaca mulatta; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Aging; Papio; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Carrier Proteins
PubMed: 37493860
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00878-3 -
Zygote (Cambridge, England) Oct 2021Sperm morphometric and morphologic data have been shown to represent useful tools for monitoring fertility, improving assisted reproduction techniques and conservation...
Sperm morphometric and morphologic data have been shown to represent useful tools for monitoring fertility, improving assisted reproduction techniques and conservation of genetic material as well as detecting inbreeding of endangered primates. We provide here for the first time sperm morphologic and morphometric data from Cercopithecus neglectus, Cercopithecus cephus, Papio papio and critically endangered Cercopithecus roloway, as well as comparative data from other Cercopithecinae species, i.e. Allochrocebus lhoesti, Mandrillus sphinx and Papio anubis. Following collection from the epididymis, spermatozoa were measured for each species for the following parameters: head length, head width, head perimeter, head area, midpiece length and total flagellum length, and the head volume, ellipticity, elongation, roughness and regularity were then calculated. Our data are consistent with both the general morphology and the morphometric proportions of Cercopithecinae sperm. Some specificities were observed, with C. cephus displaying a narrow head (width = 2.76 ± 0.26 µM) and C. roloway displaying a short midpiece (6.65 ± 0.61 µM). This data set represents an important contribution, especially for Cercopithecus roloway, one of the most endangered monkeys in the world, and further data on additional specimens coupled to data on mating systems and reproductive ecology should allow a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these morphological differences across primate species.
Topics: Animals; Cercopithecinae; Epididymis; Fertility; Male; Reproduction; Sperm Head; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 33731237
DOI: 10.1017/S0967199421000186 -
Viruses Aug 2022The practice of xenotransplantation using pig islet cells or organs is under development to alleviate the shortage of human donor islet cells or organs for the treatment... (Review)
Review
The practice of xenotransplantation using pig islet cells or organs is under development to alleviate the shortage of human donor islet cells or organs for the treatment of diabetes or organ failure. Multiple genetically modified pigs were generated to prevent rejection. Xenotransplantation may be associated with the transmission of potentially zoonotic porcine viruses. In order to prevent this, we developed highly sensitive PCR-based, immunologicals and other methods for the detection of numerous xenotransplantation-relevant viruses. These methods were used for the screening of donor pigs and xenotransplant recipients. Of special interest are the porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) that are integrated in the genome of all pigs, which are able to infect human cells, and that cannot be eliminated by methods that other viruses can. We showed, using droplet digital PCR, that the number of PERV proviruses is different in different pigs (usually around 60). Furthermore, the copy number is different in different organs of a single pig, indicating that PERVs are active in the living animals. We showed that in the first clinical trials treating diabetic patients with pig islet cells, no porcine viruses were transmitted. However, in preclinical trials transplanting pig hearts orthotopically into baboons, porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), a porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV), and porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3), but no PERVs, were transmitted. PCMV/PRV transmission resulted in a significant reduction of the survival time of the xenotransplant. PCMV/PRV was also transmitted in the first pig heart transplantation to a human patient and possibly contributed to the death of the patient. Transmission means that the virus was detected in the recipient, however it remains unclear whether it can infect primate cells, including human cells. We showed previously that PCMV/PRV can be eliminated from donor pigs by early weaning. PERVs were also not transmitted by inoculation of human cell-adapted PERV into small animals, rhesus monkey, baboons and cynomolgus monkeys, even when pharmaceutical immunosuppression was applied. Since PERVs were not transmitted in clinical, preclinical, or infection experiments, it remains unclear whether they should be inactivated in the pig genome by CRISPR/Cas. In summary, by using our sensitive methods, the safety of xenotransplantation can be ensured.
Topics: Animals; Endogenous Retroviruses; Heterografts; Humans; Macaca fascicularis; Papio; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Primates; Transplantation, Heterologous
PubMed: 36146732
DOI: 10.3390/v14091926 -
Theory in Biosciences = Theorie in Den... Jun 2020The aim of the paper is to identify psychosomatic evolutionary adaptations of hominids, which direct them at maximizing their reproductive success, and on the basis of...
The aim of the paper is to identify psychosomatic evolutionary adaptations of hominids, which direct them at maximizing their reproductive success, and on the basis of which their various social structures are built. Selected features of the hominid last common ancestor were extracted; by reducing the influence of the social structure, they were defined as the hominid "sexual nature"; these considerations were supported by the analysis of sexual jealousy as a function of socio-environmental conditions. The "sexuality core" of a hominid female was defined as "selective polyandry"-the female selects the best males among those available; and of a hominid male as "tolerant promiscuity"-the male strives for multi-male and multi-female copulations with sexually attractive females. The extracted "sexuality cores" condemn hominids to a patriarchal social structure and thus to sexual coercion and jealousy. The source of male sexual jealousy is limited access to females. Hominid female jealousy of the male results mainly from the need for protection and support. Hominids' social structures are determined by females' sexual selectivity or opportunism and by their continuous or periodic proceptivity and estrus signaling. Evolutionary functions developed by women: out-estrus sexuality, copulation calls, multiple orgasms, allow them to obtain the best possible spermatozoid. The institution of marriage blocks the influence of sexual selection in the species Homo sapiens.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Copulation; Female; Hominidae; Humans; Hylobates; Jealousy; Macaca; Male; Models, Biological; Models, Theoretical; Pan troglodytes; Papio; Reproduction; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Sexuality
PubMed: 32170558
DOI: 10.1007/s12064-020-00312-8 -
Aging Nov 2021
Topics: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cellular Senescence; Female; Fibroblasts; Homeostasis; Male; Models, Biological; Oxidative Stress; Papio; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 34845113
DOI: 10.18632/aging.203728 -
Genes Feb 2023Baboons (genus ) are an intriguing study system to investigate complex evolutionary processes and the evolution of social systems. An increasing number of studies over... (Review)
Review
Baboons (genus ) are an intriguing study system to investigate complex evolutionary processes and the evolution of social systems. An increasing number of studies over the last 20 years has shown that considerable incongruences exist between phylogenies based on morphology, mitochondrial, and nuclear sequence data of modern baboons, and hybridization and introgression have been suggested as the main drivers of these patterns. Baboons, therefore, present an excellent opportunity to study these phenomena and their impact on speciation. Advances both in geographic and genomic coverage provide increasing details on the complexity of the phylogeography of baboons. Here, we compile the georeferenced genetic data of baboons and review the current knowledge on baboon phylogeny, discuss the evolutionary processes that may have shaped the patterns that we observe today, and propose future avenues for research.
Topics: Animals; Papio; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Hybridization, Genetic; Genomics
PubMed: 36980887
DOI: 10.3390/genes14030614 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Aug 2020To balance the trade-offs of male co-residence, males living in multi-male groups may exchange ritualized greetings. Although these non-aggressive signals are widespread... (Review)
Review
To balance the trade-offs of male co-residence, males living in multi-male groups may exchange ritualized greetings. Although these non-aggressive signals are widespread in the animal kingdom, the repertoire described in the genus is exceptional, involving potentially harmful behaviours such as genital fondling. Such greetings are among the most striking male baboon social interactions, yet their function remains disputed. Drawing on the comprehensive analysis from our own research on wild Guinea baboons, combined with a survey of the literature into other baboon species, we review the form and function of male-male ritualized greetings and their relation to the various social systems present in this genus. These ritualized signals differ between species in their occurrence, form and function. While ritualized greetings are rare in species with the most intense contest competition, the complexity of and risk involved in greeting rituals increase with the degree of male-male tolerance and cooperation. The variety of societies found in this genus, combined with its role as a model for human socioecological evolution, sheds light on the evolution of ritualized behaviour in non-human primates and rituals in humans. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ritual renaissance: new insights into the most human of behaviours'.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Evolution; Ceremonial Behavior; Cultural Evolution; Female; Male; Papio
PubMed: 32594879
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0420