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Transplant Immunology Apr 2022The aim was to monitor recovery of T/B lymphocytes in baboons after depletion by anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and anti-CD20mAb (Rituximab), followed by pig kidney...
BACKGROUND
The aim was to monitor recovery of T/B lymphocytes in baboons after depletion by anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and anti-CD20mAb (Rituximab), followed by pig kidney transplantation and maintenance therapy with an anti-CD40mAb-based regimen.
METHODS
In baboons (n = 14), induction was with ATG and anti-CD20mAb, and maintenance with (i) anti-CD40mAb, (ii) rapamycin, and (iii) methylprednisolone. Follow-up was for 6 months, or until rejection or other complication developed. Baboon blood was collected at intervals to measure T/B cells and subsets by flow cytometry. In a separate study in baboons receiving the same immunosuppressive regimen (n = 10), the populations of T/B lymphocytes in PBMCs, lymph nodes, and spleen were examined.
RESULTS
After induction therapy, the total lymphocyte count and the absolute numbers of CD3, CD4, and CD8T cells fell by >80%, and no CD22B cells remained (all p < 0.001). T cell numbers began to recover early, but no CD22B cells were present in the blood for 2 months. Recovery of both T and B cells remained at <30% of baseline (p < 0.001), even if rejection developed. At 6 months, effector memory CD8T cells had increased more than other T cell subsets, but a greater percentage of B cells were naïve. In contrast to blood and spleen, T and B cells were not depleted in lymph nodes.
CONCLUSIONS
ATG and anti-CD20mAb effectively decreased T and B lymphocytes in the blood and, in the presence of anti-CD40mAb maintenance therapy, recovery of these cells was inhibited. The recovery of effector memory CD8T cells may be detrimental to long-term graft survival.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Antibodies; B-Lymphocytes; Graft Rejection; Graft Survival; Immunosuppressive Agents; Kidney; Papio; Swine; Transplantation, Heterologous
PubMed: 35114360
DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2022.101545 -
Primate Biology 2021Thorough knowledge of the ecology of a species or population is an essential prerequisite for understanding the impact of ecology on the evolution of their respective...
Thorough knowledge of the ecology of a species or population is an essential prerequisite for understanding the impact of ecology on the evolution of their respective social systems. Because of their diversity of social organizations, baboons ( spp.) are a useful model for comparative studies. Comparative ecological information was missing for Guinea baboons (), however. Here we provide data on the ecology of Guinea baboons in a comparative analysis on two geographical scales. First, we compare climate variables and land cover among areas of occurrence of all six baboon species. Second, we describe home range size, habitat use, ranging behaviour, and diet from a local population of Guinea baboons ranging near the Centre de Recherche de Primatologie (CRP) Simenti in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Home ranges and daily travel distances at Simenti varied seasonally, yet the seasonal patterns in their daily travel distance did not follow a simple dry vs. rainy season pattern. Chemical food composition falls within the range of other baboon species. Compared to other baboon species, areas occupied by Guinea baboons experience the highest variation in precipitation and the highest seasonality in precipitation. Although the Guinea baboons' multi-level social organization is superficially similar to that of hamadryas baboons (), the ecologies of the two species differ markedly. Most Guinea baboon populations, including the one at Simenti, live in more productive habitats than hamadryas baboons. This difference in the ecology of the two species contradicts a simple evolutionary relation between ecology and social system and suggests that other factors have played an additional role here.
PubMed: 34109265
DOI: 10.5194/pb-8-19-2021 -
PloS One 2023Since predynastic times, baboons (Papio hamadryas and Papio anubis) were important in ancient Egypt for ritual and religious purposes. These species did not occur...
Since predynastic times, baboons (Papio hamadryas and Papio anubis) were important in ancient Egypt for ritual and religious purposes. These species did not occur naturally in Egypt and therefore had to be imported, but little is known about their exact provenance and the conditions in which they were kept through time. Here, we analyse the skeletal remains of a collection of baboon mummies coming from Thebes (Egypt), representing a minimum of 36 individuals, from a palaeopathological and demographic point of view. The pathological cases are described, figured where relevant, and the discussion attempts to understand their aetiology. The prevalence of the different types of deformations and pathologies is compared with that of other captive baboon populations from more or less contemporary (Tuna el-Gebel and Saqqara) or older (predynastic Hierakonpolis) sites. This is combined with observations on the age and sex distribution and the proportion of hamadryas and anubis baboons to draw conclusions about the conditions of keeping, possible breeding on-site, provenance of the animals and the trade routes used for import. As in Tuna el-Gebel and Saqqara, the baboons from Gabbanat el-Qurud suffered from numerous metabolic diseases due to chronic lack of sunlight and an unbalanced diet. This and the demographic data suggest that there was a local breeding population derived from animals captured downstream from the Sudanese Nile Valley (for anubis) and from the Horn of Africa or the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula (for hamadryas). A new series of radiocarbon dates is provided, placing the baboons from Gabbanat el-Qurud between the end of the Third Intermediate Period and the beginning of the Late Period.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Papio; Papio hamadryas; Egypt; Plant Breeding; Papio anubis; Demography
PubMed: 38055690
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294934 -
Viruses Jan 2022Primate simplex viruses, including Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, form a group of closely related herpesviruses, which establish latent infections in neurons of their...
Primate simplex viruses, including Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, form a group of closely related herpesviruses, which establish latent infections in neurons of their respective host species. While neuropathogenic infections in their natural hosts are rare, zoonotic transmission of Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (McHV1) from macaques to humans is associated with severe disease. Human infections with baboon-derived Papiine alphaherpesvirus 2 (PaHV2) have not been reported, although PaHV2 and McHV1 share several biological properties, including neuropathogenicity in mice. The reasons for potential differences in PaHV2 and McHV1 pathogenicity are presently not understood, and answering these questions will require mutagenic analysis. Here, we report the development of a recombinant system, which allows rescue of recombinant PaHV2. In addition, we used recombineering to generate viruses carrying reporter genes (Gaussia luciferase or enhanced green fluorescent protein), which replicate with similar efficiency as wild-type PaHV2. We demonstrate that these viruses can be used to analyze susceptibility of cells to infection and inhibition of infection by neutralizing antibodies and antiviral compounds. In summary, we created a recombinant system for PaHV2, which in the future will be invaluable for molecular analyses of neuropathogenicity of PaHV2.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antiviral Agents; Cell Line; Cloning, Molecular; Genes, Reporter; Genome, Viral; Humans; Papio; Recombination, Genetic; Simplexvirus
PubMed: 35062295
DOI: 10.3390/v14010091 -
Cellular Immunology May 2020Nonhuman primates (NHP) are important pre-clinical models for evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the most promising potential therapeutic advances in organ... (Review)
Review
Nonhuman primates (NHP) are important pre-clinical models for evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the most promising potential therapeutic advances in organ transplantation based on rodent studies. Although rare, dendritic cells (DC) play important roles in preservation of self tolerance and DC with immunoregulatory properties (regulatory DC; DCreg) can promote transplant tolerance in rodents when adoptively transferred to allograft recipients. NHP DCreg can be generated ex vivo from bone marrow precursors or blood monocytes of cynomolgus or rhesus macaques or baboons. NHP DCreg generated in the presence of anti-inflammatory factors that confer stability and resistance to maturation, subvert alloreactive T cell responses. When infused into rhesus renal allograft recipients before transplant, they safely prolong MHC mis-matched graft survival, associated with attenuation of anti-donor immune reactivity. In this concise review we describe the properties of NHP DCreg and discuss their influence on T cell responses, alloimmunity and organ transplant survival.
Topics: Animals; Dendritic Cells; Disease Models, Animal; Kidney Transplantation; Macaca fascicularis; Macaca mulatta; Papio; Primates; Transplantation Tolerance; Transplantation, Homologous
PubMed: 32197811
DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104087 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Apr 2022Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique hosts a large population of baboons, numbering over 200 troops. Gorongosa baboons have been tentatively identified as part of Papio...
BACKGROUND
Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique hosts a large population of baboons, numbering over 200 troops. Gorongosa baboons have been tentatively identified as part of Papio ursinus on the basis of previous limited morphological analysis and a handful of mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, a recent morphological and morphometric analysis of Gorongosa baboons pinpointed the occurrence of several traits intermediate between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus, leaving open the possibility of past and/or ongoing gene flow in the baboon population of Gorongosa National Park. In order to investigate the evolutionary history of baboons in Gorongosa, we generated high and low coverage whole genome sequence data of Gorongosa baboons and compared it to available Papio genomes.
RESULTS
We confirmed that P. ursinus is the species closest to Gorongosa baboons. However, the Gorongosa baboon genomes share more derived alleles with P. cynocephalus than P. ursinus does, but no recent gene flow between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus was detected when available Papio genomes were analyzed. Our results, based on the analysis of autosomal, mitochondrial and Y chromosome data, suggest complex, possibly male-biased, gene flow between Gorongosa baboons and P. cynocephalus, hinting to direct or indirect contributions from baboons belonging to the "northern" Papio clade, and signal the presence of population structure within P. ursinus.
CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of genome data generated from baboon samples collected in central Mozambique highlighted a complex set of evolutionary relationships with other baboons. Our results provided new insights in the population dynamics that have shaped baboon diversity.
Topics: Alleles; Animals; Biological Evolution; Male; Mozambique; Papio; Papio ursinus
PubMed: 35410131
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01999-7 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2020Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease, that affects over 207 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths annually, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although many...
BACKGROUND
Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease, that affects over 207 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths annually, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although many health measures have been carried out to limit parasite transmission, significant numbers of non-human primates such as Chlorocebus aethiops (Ch. aethiops) (vervet) and Papio anubis (baboon) are infected with S. mansoni, notably in Ethiopia, where they are expected to have potentially significant implications for transmission and control efforts.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess and compare the genetic diversity and population structure of S. mansoni isolates from human and non-human primates free-ranging in close proximity to villages in selected endemic areas of Ethiopia.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in three transmission sites: Bochesa, Kime and Fincha. A total of 2,356 S. mansoni miracidia were directly isolated from fecal specimens of 104 hosts (i.e. 60 human hosts and 44 non-human primates). We performed DNA extraction and PCR amplification using fourteen microsatellite loci.
RESULTS
At population scale we showed strong genetic structure between the three sample sites. At the definitive host scale, we observed that host factors can shape the genetic composition of parasite infra-populations. First, in male patients, we observed a positive link between parasite genetic diversity and the age of the patients. Second, we observed a difference in genetic diversity which was high in human males, medium in human females and low in non-human primates (NHPs). Finally, whatever the transmission site no genetic structure was observed between human and non-human primates, however, there appears to be little barriers, if any, host specificity of the S. mansoni populations with cross-host infections.
CONCLUSION
Occurrence of infection of a single host with multiple S. mansoni strains and inter- and intra-host genetic variations was observed. Substantial genetic diversity and gene flow across the S. mansoni population occurred at each site and non-human primates likely play a role in local transmission and maintenance of infection. Therefore, public health and wildlife professionals should work together to improve disease control and elimination strategies.
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Reservoirs; Ethiopia; Female; Genetic Variation; Humans; Male; Microsatellite Repeats; Papio; Parasite Egg Count; Primate Diseases; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Sex Factors
PubMed: 32898147
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008538 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2022Primates are some of the most cognitively advanced species held in zoos, and their interactions with visitors are complex. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique...
Primates are some of the most cognitively advanced species held in zoos, and their interactions with visitors are complex. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to understand the impact of zoo visitors on animals, in comparison to "empty zoos". This study sought to understand the impact of facility closures and subsequent reopenings on behavioural and physiological parameters of welfare in four primate species housed in the UK: bonobos ( = 8), chimpanzees ( = 11), and western lowland gorillas ( = 6) held at Twycross Zoo (TZ); and olive baboons ( = 192) held at Knowsley Safari (KS). Behavioural data were collected from April-September 2020 (KS) and November 2020-January 2021 (TZ). Faecal samples were collected during morning checks from October-November (TZ) and July-November 2020 (KS). Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) were measured using ELISA kits. Statistical analysis for behavioural observations was undertaken using general linear models. Enclosure usage was assessed using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests as appropriate. Bonobos and gorillas spent less time alone when facilities were open to the public ( = 0.004, = 0.02 respectively). Gorillas spent less time resting when the facility was open to the public ( = 0.04), and chimpanzees engaged in more feeding ( = 0.02) and engagement with enrichment ( = 0.03) when the zoo was open to the public than when it was closed. Olive baboons performed less sexual and dominance behaviour and approached visitor cars more frequently when the safari park was opened to the public than they did the ranger's vehicle during closure periods. There were no significant changes in physiological parameters for any of the study species. The results suggest variable impacts of the zoo closures on zoo-housed primates. We recommend future work that seeks to understand the impact of individual-level differences on "visitor effects" and that differences between animal experiences in zoos and safari parks are further explored in a range of species.
PubMed: 35804521
DOI: 10.3390/ani12131622 -
Tissue Engineering. Part A Oct 2020This study investigated the effects of terminal sterilization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) biomaterials using clinically translatable techniques, specifically ethylene...
This study investigated the effects of terminal sterilization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) biomaterials using clinically translatable techniques, specifically ethylene oxide (EtO) and gamma (γ) irradiation. While a few studies have reported the possibility of sterilizing PVA with γ-radiation, the use of EtO sterilization of PVA requires additional study. PVA solutions were chemically crosslinked with trisodium trimetaphosphate and sodium hydroxide. The three experimental groups included untreated control, EtO, and γ-irradiation, which were tested for the degree of swelling and water content, and mechanical properties such as radial compliance, longitudinal tensile, minimum bend radius, burst pressure, and suture retention strength. In addition, samples were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements. Cell attachment was assessed using the endothelial cell line EA.hy926, and the sterilized PVA cytotoxicity was studied with a live/dead stain. Platelet and fibrin accumulation was measured using an shunt baboon model. Finally, the immune responses of PVA implants were analyzed after a 21-day subcutaneous implantation in rats and a 30-day implantation in baboon. EtO sterilization reduced the PVA graft wall thickness, its degree of swelling, and water content compared with both γ-irradiated and untreated PVA. Moreover, EtO sterilization significantly reduced the radial compliance and increased Young's modulus. EtO did not change PVA hydrophilicity, while γ-irradiation increased the water contact angle of the PVA. Consequently, endothelial cell attachment on the EtO-sterilized PVA showed similar results to the untreated PVA, while cell attachment significantly improved on the γ-irradiated PVA. When exposing the PVA grafts to circulating whole blood, fibrin accumulation of EtO-sterilized PVA was found to be significantly lower than γ-irradiated PVA. The immune responses of γ-irradiated PVA, EtO-treated PVA, and untreated PVA were compared. Implanted EtO-treated PVA showed the least MAC387 reaction. The terminal sterilization methods in this study changed PVA hydrogel properties; nevertheless, based on the characterizations performed, both sterilization methods were suitable for sterilizing PVA. We concluded that EtO can be used as an alternative method to sterilize PVA hydrogel material. Impact statement Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have been used for a variety of tissue replacements, including neural, cardiac, meniscal, cartilage, muscle, pancreatic, and ocular applications. In addition, PVA can be made into a tubular shape and used as a small-diameter vascular graft. Ethylene oxide (EtO) is one of the Food and Drug Administration-approved methods for sterilization, but its effect on PVA has not been studied extensively. The outcome of this study provides the effects of EtO and γ-irradiation of PVA grafts on both the material properties and the responses, particularly for vascular applications. Knowledge of these effects may ultimately improve the success rate of PVA vascular grafts.
Topics: Animals; Ethylene Oxide; Gamma Rays; Hydrogels; Papio; Polyvinyl Alcohol; Rats; Sterilization
PubMed: 32264787
DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2020.0002 -
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system function in the pig-to-baboon kidney xenotransplantation model.American Journal of Transplantation :... Mar 2023After pig-to-baboon kidney transplantation, episodes of hypovolemia and hypotension from an unexplained mechanism have been reported. This study evaluated the...
After pig-to-baboon kidney transplantation, episodes of hypovolemia and hypotension from an unexplained mechanism have been reported. This study evaluated the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system post-kidney xenotransplantation. Kidneys from genetically-engineered pigs were transplanted into 5 immunosuppressed baboons after the excision of the native kidneys. Immunosuppressive therapy was based on the blockade of the CD40/CD154 costimulation pathway. Plasma renin, angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone levels, and urine osmolality and electrolytes were measured in healthy pigs, healthy nonimmunosuppressed baboons, and immunosuppressed baboons with life-supporting pig kidney grafts. After pig kidney transplantation, plasma renin and Ang II levels were not significantly different, although Ang II trended lower, even though plasma AGT and potassium were increased. Plasma aldosterone levels were unchanged. Urine osmolality and sodium concentration were decreased. Even in the presence of increasing AGT and potassium levels, lower plasma Ang II concentrations may be because of reduced, albeit not absent, the reactivity of pig renin to cleave baboon AGT, suggesting an impaired response of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to hypovolemic and hypotensive episodes. The maintenance of aldosterone may be protective. The reduced urine osmolality and sodium concentration reflect the decreased ability of the pig kidney to concentrate urine. These considerations should not prohibit successful clinical pig kidney xenotransplantation.
Topics: Animals; Swine; Renin-Angiotensin System; Renin; Aldosterone; Papio; Transplantation, Heterologous; Kidney; Angiotensin II; Disease Models, Animal; Sodium; Potassium
PubMed: 36695679
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.11.022