Direct inoculation of simian immunodeficiency virus from sooty mangabeys in black mangabeys (Lophocebus aterrimus): first evidence of AIDS in a heterologous African species and different pathologic outcomes of experimental infection.

A unique opportunity for the study of the role of serial passage and cross-species transmission was offered by a series of experiments carried out at the Tulane National Primate Research Center in 1990. To develop an animal model for leprosy, three black mangabeys (BkMs) (Lophocebus aterrimus) were inoculated with lepromatous tissue that had been serially passaged in four sooty mangabeys (SMs) (Cercocebus atys). All three BkMs became infected with simian immunodeficiency virus from SMs (SIVsm) by day 30 postinoculation (p.

Defining T-cell-mediated immune responses in rotavirus-infected juvenile rhesus macaques.

The appearance of virus-specific CD4(+) and/or CD8(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of captive juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) was observed following rotavirus infection. These cell-mediated immune responses were measured following experimental or natural infection after rotavirus was isolated from stool specimens of asymptomatic animals. The virus isolated was a new strain of simian rotavirus that we named TUCH (for Tulane University and Cincinnati Children's Hospital).

Protection of mice against challenge with Bacillus anthracis STI spores after DNA vaccination.

Immune responses against the protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis are known to confer immunity against anthrax. We evaluated the efficacy of genetic vaccination with plasmid vectors encoding PA, in protecting mice from a lethal challenge with B. anthracis STI spores.

Two isoforms of the leptin receptor are enhanced in pregnancy-specific tissues and soluble leptin receptor is enhanced in maternal serum with advancing gestation in the baboon.

Leptin is a polypeptide hormone produced by adipose and other endocrine tissues. Although it has been linked to receptor-mediated pathways that directly influence human conceptus development, mechanisms that regulate the leptin receptor in pregnancy-specific tissues remain unclear. Therefore, we assessed leptin-receptor ontogeny and regulation in the baboon (Papio sp.

CpG-C immunostimulatory oligodeoxyribonucleotide activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in rhesus macaques to augment the activation of IFN-gamma-secreting simian immunodeficiency virus-specific T cells.

There are two principle subsets of dendritic cells (DCs); CD11c(+)CD123(-) myeloid DCs (MDCs) and CD11c(-)CD123(+) plasmacytoid DCs (PDCs). DC activation via TNF-TNFRs (e.g.

Use of a recombinant envelope protein subunit antigen for specific serological diagnosis of West Nile virus infection.

Serological diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is complicated by extensive antigenic cross-reactivity with other closely related flaviviruses, such as St. Louis encephalitis virus. Here we describe a recombinant, bacterially expressed antigen equivalent to structural domain III of the WNV envelope protein that has allowed clear discrimination of antibody responses to WNV from those against other related flaviviruses in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using standardized control antisera and field-collected samples.

Short-term Flt3L treatment effectively mobilizes functional macaque dendritic cells.

In vivo administration of soluble Flt3L increases dendritic cell (DC) numbers to favor improved DC targeting of vaccine antigens, augmenting vaccine efficiency. In addition to confirming the effectiveness of human Flt3L in macaques, we strove to determine the optimal regimen to elevate numbers of functional DCs. Circulating DCs were identified within lineage(-)human leukocyte antigen-DR(+) cells, which comprised CD11c(-)CD123(+) plasmacytoid DCs (PDCs) and CD123(-) cells including CD11c(+)CD123(-) myeloid DCs as well as CD11c(-)CD123(-) cells.

Priming B cell-mediated anti-HIV envelope responses by vaccination allows for the long-term control of infection in macaques exposed to a R5-tropic SHIV.

The potential of vaccine-elicited anti-HIV envelope antibodies to control HIV-infection was evaluated by immunizing macaques with the HIV envelope protein and transiently depleting them of their CD8+ cells before intravenous challenge with the pathogenic CCR5-tropic SIV/HIV chimeric virus, SHIV(SF162P4). Although sterilizing immunity was not achieved, all vaccinated animals effectively controlled infection and remained free of disease for the duration of observation (over 3 years). In contrast, during the same period, the control animals progressed to disease.

Experimental infection of rhesus macaques with West Nile virus: level and duration of viremia and kinetics of the antibody response after infection.

Reports of transfusion-associated cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection indicate the need for sensitive screening methods to identify WNV-infected blood products. We experimentally infected 5 rhesus macaques with WNV, to determine the level and duration of viremia, the kinetics of the humoral immune response, and the sensitivity of various assay systems for detecting WNV in blood. All macaques developed subclinical infections with low levels of viremia; nested reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive method for detecting virus or viral RNA in blood.

West Nile virus infection in nonhuman primate breeding colony, concurrent with human epidemic, southern Louisiana.

During the summer of 2002, an epidemic of West Nile meningoencephalitis occurred in southern Louisiana. Following the outbreak, blood samples were collected from 1,692 captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), pigtail macaques (M. nemestrina), and baboons (Papio spp.

Dynamics of Simian immunodeficiency virus-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses in tissues.

Although the dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus and Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) have been well documented in the blood, little is known regarding CTL development in other tissues. In this study, seven Mamu-A*01+ macaques were inoculated with SIVmac. Two macaques were killed at 21 days of infection, and SIV gag p11C tetramer responses were measured in the blood, axillary and mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and thymus.

CD8+ T cell-mediated CXC chemokine receptor 4-simian/human immunodeficiency virus suppression in dually infected rhesus macaques.

We coinfected rhesus macaques with CXC chemokine receptor 4- and CC chemokine receptor 5-specific simian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) to elucidate the basis for the early dominance of R5-tropic strains seen in HIV-infected humans. We found no intrinsic barrier to the transmission and dissemination of high-dose X4-SHIV in the dually infected macaques. In animals that maintained a viral set point, the R5 virus predominated.

Use of various microdosimetric models for the prediction of radon induced damage in human lungs.

Exposure to radon and radon decay products in some residential areas and at workplaces constitutes one of the greatest risks from natural sources of ionising radiation. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the precise estimations of this health risk by numerous models. The compartmental model published in ICRP Publication 66 (HRTM) has been used for calculating alpha activity concentration in human lung.

Infectious agent and immune response characteristics of chronic enterocolitis in captive rhesus macaques.

Chronic enterocolitis is the leading cause of morbidity in colonies of captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). This study's aim was to identify the common enteric pathogens frequently associated with chronic enterocolitis in normal, immunocompetent rhesus monkeys and to elucidate the influence of this clinical syndrome on the host immune system. We analyzed the fecal specimens from 100 rhesus macaques with or without clinical symptoms of chronic diarrhea.

Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium expressing a chromosomally integrated copy of the Bacillus anthracis protective antigen gene protects mice against an anthrax spore challenge.

Protective immunity against infection with Bacillus anthracis is almost entirely based on a response to the protective antigen (PA), the binding moiety for the two other toxin components. We cloned the PA gene into an auxotrophic mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as a fusion with the signal sequence of the hemolysin (Hly) A gene of Escherichia coli to allow the export of PA via the Hly export system. To stabilize the export cassette, it was also integrated into the chromosome of the live Salmonella carrier.

The effect of chronic binge ethanol consumption on the primary stage of SIV infection in rhesus macaques.

Background: Alcohol abuse and infection with HIV individually compromise immune function, but the consequence of both conditions together is poorly understood owing to the difficulties of performing appropriate studies in human subjects. Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques is considered to closely model HIV disease in that the virus infects CD4+ cells and this infection leads to a similar AIDS state. This study was initiated to study the combined effects of chronic binge alcohol consumption on the primary stage of SIV infection.

Association of low fetuin-A (AHSG) concentrations in serum with cardiovascular mortality in patients on dialysis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Vascular calcification is the most prominent underlying pathological finding in patients with uraemia, and is a predictor of mortality in this population. Fetuin-A (alpha2-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein; AHSG) is an important circulating inhibitor of calcification in vivo, and is downregulated during the acute-phase response. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that AHSG deficiency is directly related to uraemic vascular calcification.

Procedure for Successfully Introducing Cesarean-delivered Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Infants to Their Mothers.

To reduce the high rate of maternal rejection after cesarean delivery, we developed a protocol for introducing cesarean-delivered rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) infants to their mothers. The new protocol was used with 14 pregnant females and the resulting infants. After an early morning cesarean section, the mother was covered with a clean towel and returned to her cage.

Anti-leprosy protective vaccination of rhesus monkeys with BCG or BCG plus heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae: lepromin skin test results.

Groups of rhesus monkeys (RM) were vaccinated and boosted with living Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or BCG + low dose (LD) heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae (HKML) or high dose (HD) HKML or were unvaccinated. Animals vaccinated with BCG + LD and HD HKML were lepromin skin tested 2 weeks after boosting. All groups were lepromin tested 37 and 46 months after challenge with live M.

Prediction of response to hormonal treatment in metastatic breast cancer.

Prediction of outcome and individualization of therapeutic strategies are challenging problems in oncology. Predictive parameters for response to hormonal treatment include the expression of hormone receptor, the extent and location of metastatic spread, disease-free interval, patient age, response to prior hormonal therapy, grading, and more recently, some molecular markers like the expression of HER-2/neu. The use of conventional statistics for prediction of response to hormonal treatment is limited by non-linearities and complex interactions between predictive factors.

Liver regeneration investigated in a non-human primate model (Macaca mulatta).

Background/aims: An adequate model to study liver regeneration in humans is presently unavailable. We explored the feasibility of studying liver regeneration in a genetically similar species to man, the non-human primate Rhesus macaque.

Methods: Five animals were studied; two underwent 60% hepatectomy, one underwent 30% hepatectomy, and cholecystectomy alone was performed on two animals.

Effects of in vitro ethanol on tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by blood obtained from simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a product of monocytes and macrophages, functions as an important proinflammatory cytokine in the host's response to invading pathogens.

Methods: Because both alcohol abuse and human immunodeficiency virus infection affect TNF-alpha production and are known to frequently coexist, this study examined the effects of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection and in vitro alcohol exposure on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha response in blood obtained from SIV-negative and -positive animals at the asymptomatic and terminal stages of infection.

Results: Spontaneous TNF-alpha production was undetectable or low in all groups examined.

Measurement of the beam-helicity asymmetry in the p((-->)e,e'p)pi(0) reaction at the energy of the Delta(1232) resonance.

In a p((-->)e,e'p)pi(0) out-of-plane coincidence experiment at the three-spectrometer setup of the Mainz Microtron MAMI, the beam-helicity asymmetry has been precisely measured around the energy of the Delta(1232) resonance and Q(2) = 0.2(GeV/c)(2). The results are in disagreement with three up-to-date model calculations.