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Fact Sheet: The Crucial Role of Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkeys in Health Discovery and Disease Treatment

Key Details: Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkeys


Species:
Macaca nemestrina

Other common names: southern pigtail macaque, Sundaland pig-tailed macaque or Sunda pig-tailed macaque.

Geographic locations of wild populations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand.

Import status: All pigtails at the Washington National Primate Research Center are purpose-bred for research.

Conditions negatively impacting wild pig-tailed macaque populations: Human encroachment into natural habitats, climate change, pollution, oil and gas production, human recreational activities, hunting and trapping.

Source of pig-tailed macaques studied at the University of Washington: All pig-tailed macaque monkeys involved in research at the University of Washington were bred expressly for involvement in health research.

Diseases and Disorders That Require the Study of Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkeys

  • Women’s Health – Like humans, pig-tailed macaques experience menopause, menstrual cycles and give birth throughout the entire calendar year. We also share similar reproductive anatomy making these animals an important model to combat illnesses, such as chlamydia, that impact women around the globe.
  • Health Issues Associated with Premature Birth – Research in pig-tailed macaques helps researchers understand and counteract premature birth and neonatal hypoxia. Neonatal hypoxia, the tragic result of oxygen deprivation shortly before or after birth, affects roughly 2-3 out of 1,000 live human births in the U.S. each year.
  • Zika Virus Research – The study of Zika virus transmission during pregnancy occurs in pig-tailed macaques because their immune system is similar to humans.
  • HIV/AIDS Research – HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, impacts the brains of both humans and pig-tailed macaques in a similar way. People with HIV are living longer, healthier lives thanks to past research in pig-tailed macaques.
  • Valley Fever Research – Like humans, pig-tailed macaques are uniquely susceptible to Valley fever, a disease caused by inhaling a soil-dwelling fungus. This means these animals play a crucial role in the fight against Valley Fever, a growing health threat exacerbated by increasing global temperatures.
  • Aging and Social Behavior Research – There is growing evidence that pig-tailed macaques are a highly valuable research model for the study of aging and certain social behaviors where animal/human parallels exist.

Generated in collaboration with Americans for Medical Progress 

Orsborn Awarded the Washington Research Foundation’s Ronald S. Howell Distinguished Faculty Fellowship

Already holding the esteemed title of Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Dr. Amy Orsborn, Neuro core scientist at WaNPRC, was among three University of Washington (UW) faculty selected to comprise this inaugural cohort by the Washington Research Foundation (WRF). The UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering describes the fellowships as, “…honoring those who have research emphasis in neuroscience fields, a record of demonstrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and the capacity to bridge disciplines and domains.”

Amy’s work is groundbreaking, merging her computational expertise with innovative approaches in experimental systems neuroscience. The result? Fresh, fundamental insights into how neural circuits master the art of learning. Her mission? To shed light on the intricate mechanisms behind learning within expansive brain networks, all with the ultimate aim of enhancing our ability to manipulate cortical dynamics for treating neural injuries and disorders. Learn more about the Fellowship and the other recipients, Drs. Gabe Cler and Sam Golden, within the Office of Research’s announcement, “Three Faculty Chosen for the Washington Research Foundation Ronald S. Howell Distinguished Faculty Fellowship.”

A big thanks to the Washington Research Foundation @wrfseattle for their support! It’s a huge honor to receive an award focused on things I value so much: interdisciplinary research & teaching/outreach to make science a more inclusive and equitable place.

Amy Orsborn, PhD@neuroamyo

Beyond her research and teaching, Amy is deeply involved in the Women in Science and Engineering program. She’s also the co-founder of the Women in Neural Engineering group, dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the field. Her commitment to diversity and equity in science and engineering is crystal clear.

Dr. Michael Gale, Jr. awarded $8.5M P01 Grant for HIV Vaccine Research

The goal of this project is to define the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which IL-15 programs protective immunity with the RhCMV-SIV vaccine to inform our understanding of HCMV-HIV vaccine immunity against HIV.

The world is in need of an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine, and the cytomegalovirus (CMV) vector-based HIV/SIV vaccine featured in our studies is highly efficacious and durable to uniquely mediate viral “replication arrest” efficacy in the Rhesus Macaque-SIV model. Vaccine immunity is mediated by unconventional MHC-E-restricted CD8+ T cell responses and induction of IL-15, which correlate with vaccine protection. The work proposed in this application will reveal the molecular mechanisms of immune programming by the CMV-based vaccine and IL- 15 actions to inform human testing of this vaccine concept in ongoing and future phase I/II trials.

NIH P01 AI177688:     $8,472,008

 

WaNPRC AD for Research quoted in Scientific American on the pursuit of a Valley Fever vaccine

As seen in October 2023 issue:
The disease hits farmworkers and outdoor laborers disproportionately hard.

The article discusses the growing threat of Valley fever, a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides, in the western United States, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Valley fever thrives in dry, dusty environments and can be inhaled as airborne pathogens. It is characterized by symptoms such as coughing, fevers, body aches, fatigue, rashes, and appetite loss. The disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including Latino, Asian, and Native American communities, due to their frequent exposure to dusty outdoor locations. Many of those affected lack access to basic healthcare and are afraid to seek medical help due to concerns about employer retaliation or deportation.

The article highlights that Valley fever is underreported, underdiagnosed, and underfunded, with limited research on the disease. Researchers are working to better understand its spread and develop treatments and vaccines. Climate change and environmental factors, such as increased dust exposure, are contributing to the spread of Valley fever, and there is concern that it could extend into new regions in the future.

One potential benefit of a Valley fever vaccine is that it could be a one-and-done kind of thing—unlike those for influenza or even tetanus, which must be updated regularly. According to studies by microbiologist Deborah Fuller of the University of Washington School of Medicine, people who get Valley fever develop lifelong immunity. That, Fuller says, “is the golden egg.”

Dr. Deborah FullerAssociate Director for Research, Core Scientist

Fuller’s research team is actively working on developing both DNA and RNA-based vaccines. These vaccines are designed to stimulate the body to produce specific proteins that can trigger a strong immune response. What makes these vaccines particularly valuable is that they have the potential to do more than just combat Valley fever. They could also serve as a valuable tool for researchers to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to other fungal diseases. This research could ultimately lead to improved treatments for a range of fungal infections, providing valuable insights into the field of fungal disease immunology.

Efforts are also underway at both the local and federal levels to address the threat of Valley fever, with some researchers working on vaccines for humans, building on the success of a vaccine for dogs. Funding for Valley fever research has increased in response to rising incidence rates, but there is a long way to go in terms of awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this fungal disease, especially among vulnerable populations like farmworkers.

Related:
https://news.nau.edu/valley-fever-collaborative/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37730871/

Research Funding

research funding opportunities

 

  • UH3MH120095 (Ting/Lien/Levi/Kalume, MPI) Cell type selective tools to interrogate and correct non-human primate and human brain circuitry neurophysiology of disjunctive saccades (w/ Allen Institute)
  • R01EY035921 (Walton, PI) Neurophysiology of Disjunctive Saccades
  • R01AI17677 (Adams Waldorf/Gale, MPI)Impact of Zika virus infection on fetal innate and adaptive immunity
  • R01AI175459 (Frueh/Sacha, MPI; Gale, Co-I)Non-canonical epitope presentation and antigen processing by MHC-E (w/OHSU & ONPRC)
  • R44 AI186932 (Bagley, Fuller, MPI) – Enhanced seasonal influenza vaccine targeting variable and conserved antigens (w/Orlance, Inc.)
  • BAA-HHS-NIH-NIAID-BAA2023-1 (Robb, PI; Fuller, Co-I) – Development of a delta-cps1 live attenuated vaccine against Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) (w/Anivive, Inc.)
  • R33AI161811 (Kahndhar, PI; Fuller, Co-I) – Engineering the immune response of a self-replicating and adjuvanting RNA HIV-1 vaccine (w/HDT Bio)

 

 

Dr. Cynthia Derdeyn & Emory University
NIH R01-AI174979        $4,002,880

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is providing financial support to Dr. Derdeyn and her collaborators at Emory National Primate Research Center (ENPRC) for their research on HIV vaccines before human testing. They have demonstrated that the vaccine triggers strong levels of protective antibodies capable of preventing infection. Additionally, they have identified the specific vaccine components that these antibodies target. These discoveries are driving the development of new approaches to enhance protection.

The similarity between the protective antibodies produced in response to the vaccine in both monkeys (nonhuman primates or NHPs) and humans is being illustrated. By monitoring the development of these antibodies, the Derdeyn Lab is gaining comprehensive insights into this complex process. Their work underscores the value of the monkey model in fully comprehending this mysterious mechanism. Their findings, demonstrating the production of similar protective antibodies in both monkeys and humans, are advancing efforts to create an effective HIV vaccine.

 

Dr. Michael Gale, Jr.
NIH P01 AI177688       $8,472,008

The goal of this project is to define the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which IL-15 programs protective immunity with the RhCMV-SIV vaccine to inform our understanding of HCMV-HIV vaccine immunity against HIV.

The world needs a good vaccine for HIV/AIDS, and the Gale Lab is studying a candidate using a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV). It’s very effective and long-lasting at stopping the virus from multiplying in the Rhesus Macaque-SIV model. This vaccine works by activating a type of immune response that’s a bit unusual, and it also increases the levels of a protein called IL-15, which helps protect against HIV.

They are seeking to figure out exactly how this vaccine and IL-15 work together to create protection and to use that knowledge to test the vaccine in people in phase I/II trials. In simpler terms, they’re trying to understand how a specific vaccine using CMV and IL-15 can protect against HIV, then building on this information to develop better HIV vaccines for humans.

 

Dr. Megan O’Connor
NIH R21AI170094-01A1       $706,000
NIH R01HL165933-01A1       $3,876,310 
Dr. O’Connor‘s R21 study aims to understand how a new type of COVID-19 vaccine works in a monkey model of HIV/AIDS, which mimics immune problems. The information the lab is gathering will help make this vaccine better for global use, even in places with fewer resources, and for people with weakened immune systems, like those with HIV.

With the R01 funding, the O’Conner Lab is studying how HIV affects our immune system and gut bacteria when it comes to COVID-19. Through their work involving monkeys with HIV, they are learning how our immune system affects COVID-19 in the lungs and how having a weaker immune system can make COVID-19 worse.

 

Dr. Amy Orsborn
NIH R01NS134634-01       $701,214

Dr. Amy Orsborn‘s project aims to make brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) better. BCIs can help paralyzed people move, but they have problems lasting a long time and working well in different situations. This is because our brains change when we use BCIs a lot, and this affects how well they work. The Orsborn Labs wants to understand these changes and use them to make BCIs more reliable. We will use monkeys to study how their brains change when they control a computer cursor with their thoughts. We will also use special implants to see what’s happening in their brains over 10 days.

The laboratory has three main goals:

  1. See if the way they program the BCI (called the decoder) affects how the brain organizes information (called the encoder). This can make BCIs more resistant to signal loss (when the brain can’t send signals) and changes in tasks.
  2. Check if the decoder also influences how specific the encoder is to certain BCI movements. This can make BCIs better at adapting to different tasks.
  3. Develop new computer methods that can make BCIs more robust without making them perform worse. By studying these things, they hope to make BCIs using brain plasticity to work better for a long time and in different situations.

 

Dr. Anitha Pasupathy
NIH U01 NS131810-01        $3,315,014

Dr. Pasupathy and her collaborators’ main aim is to deeply and precisely understand how different parts of the primate brain work together when making decisions based on what they sense. They want to create detailed maps that show how different areas of the brain communicate with each other down to the level of individual cells.

They’re going to create new methods that will help them:

  1. Accurately find linked brain cells in different parts of the brain, both near the surface and deep within it.
  2. Use advanced scanning technology and special recording devices to see and understand how these brain cells work in larger groups.
  3. Study how these groups of brain cells work together while animals do tasks that are relevant to their natural behaviors.

By doing this, they hope to learn how different parts of the brain talk to each other and combine what they sense and know to help animals make sense of their surroundings. This research will also help us understand and develop ways to treat brain problems that affect how we recognize objects or how different parts of our brain communicate, like what happens in conditions like agnosia or autism.

 

Dr. Dorothy Patton
NIH R01-AI175153-01        $5,084,750

Drs. Dorothy Patton and Lucia Vojtech are planning to study whether a type of bacteria, called C. trachomatis (CT), that causes infections in the rectal area might actually protect against infections in other parts of the body, like the genital area. They’ve seen an increase in these rectal infections in clinics that deal with sexually transmitted infections, but they’re not sure how these infections affect the body’s ability to fight off the bacteria or prevent future infections.

In previous studies with mice, researchers found that when the animals were infected with a similar bacteria in their rectal area, it made them less likely to get infected in their genital area. This suggests that a rectal infection might help the body’s immune system learn how to defend against infections in different areas. However, it’s not known if this also happens in humans when they naturally get infected with CT.

To find out, researchers are using a group of pigtail macaques, which have similar responses to infections as humans. They’re infecting these monkeys with CT in their rectal area and then observing if this protects them from getting infected in their genital area later on. At the same time, they’re also studying how the immune system responds to rectal infections with CT in humans.

By comparing the results from the monkey and human studies, the researchers aim to see if a rectal infection triggers a stronger immune response that can better protect against future infections compared to infections in the genital area. This information could help them develop vaccines that provide better protection against CT infections in humans, especially in the genital area, and prevent the most severe consequences of these infections.

 

More new funding:

  • R01 AI174979 (Derdeyn, PI) Tracking the evolutionary trajectory of neutralizing antibodies following BG505 SOSIP immunization in rhesus macaques, $822,777 (current FY)
  • R21AI168739  (Shears, PI)** Malaria vaccine evaluation in a novel infant NHP challenge model, $353,000
  • R44AI179440 (Frizzell/Fuller, MPI) Clinic-ready MACH-1 Gene Gun for Delivery of a Universal Influenza DNA vaccine, $996,500
  • U19AI166058-supplement (Keim PD, Fuller Project PI)  Early In Vivo Expressed Antigens and their Role in Virulence, Immune Response and Vaccines for Coccidioidomycosis, $1,390,215
  • R01AI170214 (Peterson, PI)** Developing Durable, Env-Boosted CAR T Cells for HIV Cure, $893,464
  • R01AI174304 (Lieber/Kiem, MPI) In vivo HSC gene therapy using a multi-modular HDAd vector for HIV cure, $685,904
  • amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research (Lieber/Kiem, MPI), – Portable gene therapy treatment, $480,000

 

 

Macaques in Puerto Rico learned to share shade after Hurricane Maria

After Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico in 2017, monkeys living there forged new bonds to share a suddenly scarce resource: shade.

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that were willing to hang out with others boosted their chance of survival in the storm’s aftermath, researchers report July 24 at bioRxiv.org. That newfound sociability may have allowed multiple animals to escape the scorching heat of the day beneath any trees left standing, and any other source of shade they could find.

Read More


Related: Oct 6, 2017NPRCs Pitching in: Recovery Continues for the Caribbean Primate Research Center – Puerto Rico

The Washington National Primate Research Center was tapped to serve as the coordinating center to oversee the combined pledge of funds from the NPRCs in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin totaling $30,000.

This aid will arrive in Puerto Rico by way of a container ship with vital supplies and equipment. The NIH is facilitating these operations, and FEMA is prioritizing urgent animal support supplies in order to avoid some of the supply chain backups that have plagued ground distribution in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Photos c/o Angelina Ruiz Lambides, Associate Director, Scientist-in-Charge at the Cayo Santiago Biological Field Station, University of Puerto Rico

 

60 MINUTES – NEWSMAKERS
On Monkey Island, scientists have rare access to more than 6 decades of biological, behavioral data

Going on a trip? A COVID booster could be part of your plans

UW Medicine Newsroom asked faculty experts to offer a summer outlook on COVID protection.

Image by macrovector on Freepik

Virologist and WaNPRC Associate Director for Research, Dr. Deborah Fuller, and Immunologist Dr. Marion Pepper provide insights into the current status of COVID protection as the disease continues to impact respiratory infections.

uw medicine newsroom

Dr. Randy Kyes Marks 20 Years of Field Training in Langtang National Park, Nepal

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Randy Kyes @RCKGLOBAL Just down from the Himalayas – Langtang National Park. Seems like I’ve taken a million photos during 20+ yrs of research and training in the park – but every time I see it, it’s like my first time… Thank you to Dr. Narayan Koju of NEC and the amazing students who joined us.

Training kicked off in March at Nepal Engineering College in Kathmandu with a total of 41 participants representing 10 different academic institutions throughout Nepal.

Additionally, the team was able to provide educational outreach regarding conservation biology and global health to fourth and fifth graders at the Shee Janasudhar Basic School in Swoyambhu, Kathmandu. The next stop for Kyes was Tangkoko Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, for the 23rd annual field course starting back up after a four year pandemic delay.

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Thank you to the school’s teachers and all our field course participants.

 

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One week into our 23rd “annual” field course in Tangkoko, Indonesia with an impressive group of 21 students from UNSRAT, UDK, and Batu Putih – great to be back (photo via drone). Will be conducting our annual outreach education program for local school children in a few days.

 

Researchers tackle major obstacle to stem-cell heart repair

Engineered stem cells do not provoke dangerous heart rhythms, a problem that has thwarted efforts to date.

Charles E. Murry, MD, PhD
Chuck Murry, M.D., Ph.D., WaNPRC Core Scientist in the Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed stem cells that don’t cause dangerous heart rhythms, a hurdle in using stem cells to repair injured hearts. The team used pluripotent stem cells, which can become any cell type. Previous attempts at using stem cells to repair heart damage were successful but resulted in high heart rates initially. To address this, the researchers manipulated ion channels and genes in the stem cells and created a new stem cell line called “MEDUSA” that generates heart muscle cells that beat in sync with natural pacemaking without causing dangerous rhythms. This breakthrough could pave the way for heart regeneration.

UW Medicine Newsroom

The Washington Post

An epic celebration three decades in the making… but it almost didn’t happen

Who would have known that a chance meeting with an Indonesian scientist in the middle of North Carolina would have led to today?

“I had just completed my PhD and started my postdoc at Wake Forest School of Medicine. This was in 1989. I happened to meet Dondin Sajuthi that summer. He had just moved from Indonesia and was starting his postdoc. He said, “We have this little deserted island where we’ve started releasing monkeys to establish a breeding population. You ought to talk to the people at the primate center at the University of Washington. They’re interested in somebody going there to monitor how the monkeys are doing.” – Dr. Randall C. (Randy) Kyes
In the field on Tinjil Island – Randy with colleague Dr. Entang Iskandar from the Primate Research Center at IPB University. Entang was a student in Randy’s very first field course in 1991. He has collaborated with Randy in every field course since.
Dr. Elle Kyes, Randy’s wife and collaborator, collects mosquitos with students as part of a training exercise out in the field.

Fast-forward 30 years …plus a little more thanks to a worldwide pandemic, to this past July when Dr. Kyes and his Indonesian collaborators marked this significant milestone for Washington National Primate Research Center and it’s Global Conservation, Education and Outreach (GCEO) unit. What’s all the fuss about?  This is a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Field Course in Conservation Biology & Global Health on Tinjil Island, Banten, Java, Indonesia.

Randy, chief of the GCEO unit at WaNPRC, and his colleagues at the Primate Research Center (PSSP) at IPB University (IPB) established the field course in 1991. They chose the location to be this small island in the Indian Ocean, about 16km off the southern coast of Bantan Java. It’s also home to IPB University’s PSSP primate natural habitat breeding facility for long-tailed macaque monkeys. Tinijl forms the foundation of the programs and partnerships expanding to many other countries where issues of primate conservation and human-primate conflict and coexistence are paramount. Kyes and his collaborators have conducted 132 field courses in 8 programs countries over three decades.

In addition to the field course and outreach activities, Kyes and his many students, alumni and collaborators gathered for a special seminar in Bogor, Indonesia.
File photo: Long-tailed macaque dam with twin infants on Tinjil Island – 2014.

The annual, month-long field training program in Indonesia has provided field-based educational and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from IPB and other Indonesian institutions, as well as from the University of Washington and other US institutions. Additionally, participating Indonesian and US students gained unique opportunities for cultural exchange and language development, which even set the stage for future partnerships.

“The underlying premise of our field training – from the outset – has been that the long-term success of any conservation or global health program depends in large part on the ability of the local people to take leading roles in the conduct of those programs. For me, one of the most exciting outcomes from our work is seeing our field course alumni go on to positions in conservation or public health, and even having some return to teach in our courses – thus helping to promote a future generation of scientists and practitioners.” – Kyes
“The partnership with the PSSB at IPB remains the GCEO’s longest ongoing international collaboration.

Engaging the public and sharing knowledge regarding the importance of nonhuman primate conservation is a primary goal of Dr. Kyes and the GCEO program at WaNPRC. During the past year, Kyes and his colleagues used the real-life experience of the COVID-19 pandemic as an important opportunity to educate students about the devastating human effects of zoonotic disease transmission, and to illustrate the value of translational science with nonhuman primates.

Professor Dondin Sajuthi, DVM, PhD (October 27, 1954 – July 5, 2021)

Over the past two years, the unprecedent virus caused many challenges and even delayed the 30th anniversary celebration. Even more notably, COVID virus was responsible for taking the life of that very same Indonesian scientist that Randy met so many years ago, Dr. Dondin Sajuthi. “He was like a brother to me,” Kyes said. “He was someone who’s always watching out for you, always taking care of you, always helping you in one way or another. Even if you didn’t know. He was behind the scenes trying to make things workout for you and that’s something that I will always remember.”

 

The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) is home to researchers and dedicated professionals advancing scientific and medical breakthroughs and providing compassionate care for laboratory monkeys. Unique among the National Primate Research Centers (NPRC) is the WaNPRC’s unit on Global Conservation, Education and Outreach (GCEO) whose reach extends beyond Seattle to countries half a world away.