Development of an effective alternative model for in vivo hypnozoite-induced relapse infection: A Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) model experimentally infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi.

In the present study, we demonstrate that the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) can be used as an effective alternative in vivo model for investigating hypnozoite-induced relapsing infection caused by Plasmodium cynomolgi B strain, and that this model is comparable to the rhesus macaque model. Two female Japanese macaques (JM-1 and JM-2; aged 5 years; weighing about 4.0 kg) were used for the experiment.

Construction of complete Tupaia belangeri transcriptome database by whole-genome and comprehensive RNA sequencing.

The northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) possesses high potential as an animal model of human diseases and biology, given its genetic similarity to primates. Although genetic information on the tree shrew has already been published, some of the entire coding sequences (CDSs) of tree shrew genes remained incomplete, and the reliability of these CDSs remained difficult to determine. To improve the determination of tree shrew CDSs, we performed sequencing of the whole-genome, mRNA, and total RNA and integrated the resulting data.

Effect of blue light-emitting diode light and antioxidant potential in a somatic cell.

Light is an indispensable part of routine laboratory work in which conventional light is generally used. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have come to replace conventional light, and thus could be a potent target in biomedical studies. Since blue light is a major component of visible light wavelength, in this study, using a somatic cell from the African green monkey kidney, we assessed the possible consequences of the blue spectra of LED light in future animal experiments and proposed a potent mitigation against light-induced damage.

Avian H5N1 influenza virus infection causes severe pneumonia in the Northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri).

Avian-origin influenza viruses like H5N1 and H7N9 often cause severe symptoms with high mortality in humans. Animal models are useful for clarification of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of these infections. In this study, to expand the potential utility of the Northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) for influenza virus infection, we assessed the pathogenicity of H5N1 and H7N9 avian influenza viruses in tupaia.

Interferon-β response is impaired by hepatitis B virus infection in Tupaia belangeri.

To date, the chimpanzee has been used as the natural infection model for hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, as this model is very costly and difficult to use because of ethical and animal welfare issues, we aimed to establish the tupaia (Tupaia belangeri) as a new model for HBV infection and characterized its intrahepatic innate immune response upon HBV infection. First, we compared the propagation of HBV genotypes A2 and C in vivo in tupaia hepatocytes.

Effective use of the TSPY gene-specific copy number in determining fetal DNA in the maternal blood of cynomolgus monkeys.

Since the available concentration of single-copy fetal genes in maternal blood DNA is sometimes lower than detection limits by PCR methods, the development of specific and quantitative PCR detection methods for fetal DNA in maternal blood is anticipated, which may broaden the methods that can be used to monitor pregnancy. We used the TaqMan qPCR amplification for DYS14 multi-copy sequence and the SRY gene in maternal blood plasma (cell-free DNA) and fractional precipitated blood cells (cellular DNA) from individual cynomolgus monkeys at 22 weeks of pregnancy. The availability of cell-free fetal DNA was higher in maternal blood plasma than that of cellular DNA from fractional precipitated blood cells.

Emergence of infectious malignant thrombocytopenia in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) by SRV-4 after transmission to a novel host.

We discovered a lethal hemorrhagic syndrome arising from severe thrombocytopenia in Japanese macaques kept at the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University. Extensive investigation identified that simian retrovirus type 4 (SRV-4) was the causative agent of the disease. SRV-4 had previously been isolated only from cynomolgus macaques in which it is usually asymptomatic.

Detection and quantification of male-specific fetal DNA in the serum of pregnant cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Because of their developmental similarities to humans, nonhuman primates are often used as a model to study fetal development for potential clinical applications in humans. The detection of fetal DNA in maternal plasma or serum offers a source of fetal genetic material for prenatal diagnosis. However, no such data have been reported for cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), an important model in biomedical research.

Isolation and DNA characterization of a simian retrovirus 5 from a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata).

An SRV-like virus was isolated from a colony-born Japanese monkey. To identify this SRV-like virus, we designed universal primers at regions that were conserved among the reported SRV sequences in the 5'-LTR and the short ORF and we obtained plasmid clones containing the complete gag, prt, pol and env genes. The full-length sequences of the isolate were determined from the plasmids and by direct sequencing.

Simian betaretrovirus infection in a colony of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Of the 419 laboratory-bred cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in a breeding colony at our institution, 397 (95%) exhibited antibodies or viral RNA (or both) specific for simian betaretrovirus (SRV) in plasma. Pregnant monkeys (n= 95) and their offspring were tested to evaluate maternal-infant infection with SRV. At parturition, the first group of pregnant monkeys (n = 76) was antibody-positive but RNA-negative, the second group (n = 14 monkeys) was positive for both antibody and RNA, and the last group (n = 5) was antibody-negative but RNA-positive.

DNA characterization of simian Entamoeba histolytica-like strains to differentiate them from Entamoeba histolytica.

Two simian Entamoeba histolytica-like strains, EHMfas1 and P19-061405, have been suggested to represent a new species based on genetic characterization. Sequence analyses of the hexokinase, glucose phosphate isomerase, and phosphoglucomutase genes supported the previous findings of isoenzyme analyses demonstrating a new zymodeme pattern. Phylogenetic studies of 18S rDNA, 5.

Prevalence and molecular phylogenetic characterization of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) minasense in the peripheral blood of small neotropical primates after a quarantine period.

Neotropical primates of the Cebidae and Callitrichidae, in their natural habitats, are frequently infected with a variety of trypanosomes including Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes a serious zoonosis, Chagas' disease. The state of trypanosome infection after a 30-day quarantine period was assessed in 85 squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and 15 red-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas), that were wild-caught and exported to Japan as companion animals or laboratory animals, for biomedical research, respectively. In addition to many microfilariae of Mansonella (Tetrapetalonema) mariae at a prevalence of 25.

Comparison of Entamoeba histolytica DNA isolated from a cynomolgus monkey with human isolates.

Three protein-coding loci in DNA of an Entamoeba histolytica strain (EHMfas1) isolated from cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) were sequenced; these loci corresponded to the genes for chitinase, the serine-rich E. histolytica protein (SREHP), and the 16 S-like small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S-like SSUrRNA). The nucleotide and deduced amino-acid sequences of chitinase and SREHP were compared with sequences from human isolates.

Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar infections in cynomolgus monkeys imported into Japan for research.

Three hundred and three stool samples of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) imported from China and the Philippines were examined for Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar infections. Microscopy detected E. histolytica/E.