Macaca nemestrina, also known as the pigtail macaque, plays a crucial role in drug development and serves as a highly valuable animal model for studying various human diseases due to its phenotypic similarities to humans, including those related to the aging process. Hematology is a critical component of clinical assessments for this spesies, serving both as a diagnostic tool to determine their health status and to characterize disease models, including degenerative and geriatric diseases. As anemia is a common phenomenon in the elderly, it is also important to determine whether M. nemestrina exhibit a similar condition with age. The aim of this study was to determine the hematological profiles of clinically healthy female M. nemestrina across young, adult, and elderly age groups, particularly related to anemia parameters. This study was conducted at the Primate Research Center, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia. The animals were part of a breeding colony and were divided into three groups based on age: young (5–7 years), adult (12–14 years), and elderly (18–21 years). Following anesthesia with ketamine, a physical examination was performed to determine clinical status, and blood samples were collected for a complete blood count (CBC) evaluation using an automated analyzer. The results showed that total erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were significantly different (P<0.05) in the elderly group compared to the other groups. Additionally, the red cell distribution width (RDW) percentage and leukocyte count differed significantly between the adult and elderly groups. The results showed that the erythrogram differs with age in clinically healthy M. nemestrina, suggesting the importance of determining appropriate baseline reference values in macaques of different ages.

AAV-PHP.eB achieves superior neuronal transduction over AAV9 in pigtail macaques following intracerebroventricular administration

Antibodies are central players in adaptive immunity, providing protection against a wide array of pathogens through mechanisms such as neutralization, opsonization, recruitment of effector immune cells, complement activation and engagement. However, in other contexts, these same effector functions can contribute to immunopathology, particularly when antibodies are developed against self-antigens, resulting in autoimmunity. Understanding the role antibodies play in preventing or causing disease is often supported by studies in model systems wherein manipulation of IgG levels can be used as an experimental tool. Here, we report in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) the capacity of two orthogonal strategies to systemically deplete IgG – treatment with a neonatal Fc receptor blocking antibody (Rozanolixizumab) that restricts IgG rescue and recycling, and administration of the IgG protease Imlifidase (IdeS) that cleaves the Fc domain. Under the conditions evaluated, we observed more rapid and effective, although not necessarily more durable, IgG depletion mediated by IdeS, reducing levels by 74.1–95.1%, compared to a lesser reduction of 31.3–66.9% with anti-FcRn treatment. We observed a similar degree of depletion, comparable kinetics of rebound among SIV antigen-specific fractions as total IgG, but differential balance among IgG subclasses following treatment in some cases. In sum, this study in a nonhuman primate model describes the efficacy and downstream impacts of new tools to modify humoral immune states providing insight into the balance between protective and pathological effects of IgG antibodies.

ABSTRACTChanges in species composition and diversity along elevational gradients remain poorly understood for many tropical taxa. Here we elucidate the distribution of mid‐ to large‐bodied mammals along elevational gradients in northwestern Borneo. We deployed camera traps at 209 stations using stratified sampling across seven elevation categories at six protected areas from 2014 to 2017, recording 33 mammal species. Species richness was not statistically related to elevation, but species composition shifted in response to opposing effects of elevation on the occurrence of different taxa. No species were restricted to the lowlands, but occurrence of common palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), thick‐spined porcupine (Hystrix crassispinis), and long‐tailed porcupine (Trichys fasciculata) was higher at low elevations. In contrast, occurrence of masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), pig‐tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), and Malay weasel (Mustela nudipes) increased with elevation, and two species ‐ Hose's Civet (Diplogale hosei) and Sunda Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi) ‐ were only detected in the highlands (> 700 m). Species tended to shift their activity patterns in low versus high elevation forests, though the magnitude of these effects was small. Most species that we detected currently have broad elevational ranges; nevertheless, protecting forest across elevational gradients remains critical so that if climate change forces species to abandon the lowlands, they have habitat connections to higher‐elevation refugia.

Novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous detection of three anti-HIV drugs tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir in plasma.

The physiological properties of human and rodent neurons differ, yet the extent to which these differences reflect human specializations is often unclear. Compared with their rodent counterparts, human supragranular pyramidal neurons possess enriched HCN-channel-dependent intrinsic membrane properties and a related sensitivity to synaptic inputs containing delta/theta band frequencies. We tested whether other primate species possess enriched HCN-channel dependent membrane properties. We found ubiquitous HCN1 subunit gene expression in supragranular glutamatergic neurons across New World Monkeys, Old-World Monkeys, and great apes in single nucleus RNA-sequencing datasets. Using Patch-seq recordings from acute and cultured brain slices, we found robust HCN-dependent physiological properties in supragranular pyramidal neurons in a species of New-World monkey (Saimiri sciureus) and two species of Old-World Monkey (Macaca mulatta, Macaca nemestrina). In both human and macaque neocortex, HCN-related intrinsic properties increased in magnitude with increasing laminar depth, especially in one transcriptomic cell type. Within this type, HCN dependent properties were more pronounced in macaque than human neurons. These findings indicate that HCN-governed membrane properties and sensitivity to delta/theta band frequencies are roughly conserved in supragranular pyramidal neurons across at least 36 million years of primate evolution.

The placenta is a complex organ with multiple immune and non-immune cell types that promote fetal tolerance and facilitate the transfer of nutrients and oxygen. The nonhuman primate (NHP) is a key experimental model for studying human pregnancy complications, in part due to similarities in placental structure, which makes it essential to understand how single-cell populations compare across the human and NHP maternal-fetal interface. We constructed a single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) atlas of the placenta from the pigtail macaque ( Macaca nemestrina ) in the third trimester, comprising three different tissues at the maternal-fetal interface: the chorionic villi (placental disc), chorioamniotic membranes, and the maternal decidua. Each tissue was separately dissociated into single cells and processed through the 10X Genomics and Seurat pipeline, followed by aggregation, unsupervised clustering, and cluster annotation. Next, we determined the maternal-fetal origins of cell populations and analyzed single-cell RNA trajectory, Gene Ontology enrichment, and cell-cell communication. Single-cell populations in the pigtail macaque were strikingly similar in their identity and frequency to those found in the human placenta, including cells from trophoblast, stromal cell, immune, and macrophage lineages. An advantage of our approach was the deep sequencing of three tissues at the maternal-fetal interface, which yielded a rich diversity of common and rare single-cell populations. The third-trimester pigtail macaque single-cell atlas enables the identification of cellular subclusters analogous to those in humans and provides a powerful resource for understanding experimental perturbations on the NHP placenta.

ABSTRACTMammalian species are key in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The tropical rainforest in Borneo is characterized by its rich biodiversity and rugged interior, which houses various forest types from the lowland dipterocarp forest to the montane and ericaceous forests above 1500 m. Using the data obtained from 81 camera trap stations set up from April 2023 to September 2024, we investigated the diversity of mammalian species across the spatial and temporal dimensions. We detected 35 species of mammals from 6 orders and 15 families, excluding the Muridae and Sciuridae species. We highlight significant differences between mean species richness among tropic guilds across elevational classes. From the results of Bayesian single‐season occupancy analysis, the pig‐tailed macaque Macaca nemestrina has the highest occupancy rate of 0.79 (95% credible interval [CrI] 0.68, 0.89), followed by the red muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, 0.71 (95% CrI 0.59, 0.83). Temporally, all the individual species' activity patterns followed the previous studies, except for the mousedeer Tragulus spp., which are found to be mostly nocturnal. We also report evidence of differences in elevational distribution among some species within the community. In conclusion, our results offer baseline knowledge on the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of non‐volant mammals in a high‐altitude protected area.

ABSTRACTOver 30 types of amacrine cells have been described in the primate retina, yet few are well characterized. Here, we investigated amacrine cells expressing the alpha subunit of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the retinas of human, macaque (Macaca fascicularis, Macaca nemestrina), and marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) monkeys using immunohistochemistry and intracellular injections, with a focus on displaced amacrine cells (dACs) in the ganglion cell layer. The spatial density of CaMKII‐positive dACs decreases with the distance from the fovea, but in the peripheral temporal retina, the density of CaMKII‐positive dACs nevertheless exceeds the density of retinal ganglion cells. In all species, CaMKII‐positive dACs include cells expressing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) cells, but in the human retina, only 60% of the ON ChAT population is CaMKII‐positive. Conversely, in the marmoset and the macaque, about 80% of ON ChAT cells co‐express CaMKII, but only 55% of ON ChAT cells in humans do so. Intracellular injections of CaMKII‐positive dACs with the lipophilic dye DiI revealed ON starburst and semilunar Type 3 cells in all three species, but in the human retina, at least three additional types were detected. In the inner nuclear layer, CaMKII is expressed by multiple populations of amacrine cells, which are distinguished based on their soma size and staining intensity, but OFF ChAT cells do not co‐express CaMKII. We conclude that ON‐ and OFF‐ChAT cells show distinct patterns of CaMKII expression and that the diversity of CaMKII‐expressing dACs in humans is greater than that in marmoset or macaque retina.

Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai University has a Botanical Garden with an area of ​​152 Ha with an area of ​​Zone A (27 Ha) and Zone B (125 Ha). The Botanical Garden of Universitas Pahlawan is a habitat for various types of Fauna one of the animals in the Botanical Garden is Primates. This study aims to analyze the diversity of primates in Zone A at the Botanical Garden of Universitas Pahlawan from Kampar, Riau. The research method uses the transect path method by walking along the transect line. Primate research studies in the Botanical Garden area, especially in Zone A, there are three types of primates, namely Macaca fascularis, Presbytis thomasi and Macaca nemestrina. Based on field observations, Presbytis thomasi is the dominant primate, with a count of 14, followed by Macaca fascicularis with a total of 10, and Macaca nemestrina with a total of 2. Primate diversity in the Pahlawan University Botanical Garden remains relatively low, ranging from 0.14 to 0.52, and the dominance index varies from 0.08 to 0.54. The dominant primate is the Kedih (Presbytis thomasi) with a dominance index 0.5. The distribution of the three primates is still in the secondary forest area and part of the rubber and oil palm plantation area of ​​the Pahlawan University Botanical Gardens.

Evaluating the efficacy of an integrated law enforcement approach to safeguarding Sumatran tigers and their prey.

The fetal origins of neuropsychiatric disorders are poorly understood but have been linked to viral or inflammatory injury of the developing brain. The fetal white matter is particularly susceptible to injury as myelination, axonal growth, and deep white matter tracts become established. We have used the pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) to study the maternal and fetal effects of influenza A virus (FLUAV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy, in cohorts with different time intervals between inoculation and delivery. We observed a striking histopathological alteration in a subset of astrocytes which contained granular cytoplasmic inclusions (“inclusion cells”, ICs) within a specific region of the deep cerebral white matter in the fetal brains from specific FLUAV and ZIKV cohorts. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of ICs indicated that they are astrocytes (GFAP+) undergoing autophagocytosis (p62+) with activated lysosomes (LAMP1+, LAMP2+) and reactive changes in neighboring microglia. There was also a positive correlation between the number of ICs and LAMP1 or LAMP2 immunoreactivity in the fetal brain (LAMP1: rho 0.66; LAMP2: rho 0.54, p < 0.001 for both). Interestingly, ICs were significantly more prevalent in the 5-day FLUAV cohort and the 21-day intermediate ZIKV cohort than in controls (p < 0.005 and p = 0.04, respectively), but this relationship was not apparent in the ZIKV cohort with a shorter (2–3 days) or longer (months) time course. Virologic and immunologic assays indicated that the appearance of these cells was not linked with fetal brain infection. ICs were not observed in a macaque model of perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. These alterations in fetal white matter are pathologically abnormal and may represent a transient neuropathologic finding that signifies a subtle brain injury in the fetus after maternal viral infection.

ABSTRACTSynanthropes are known for their remarkable adaptability to coexist with humans, yet increased visibility exposes them to significant threats, such as hunting or conflict over resources. Moore et al.'s review ‘The rise of hyperabundant native generalists threatens both humans and nature’ (https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12985) explores distribution patterns and impacts of macaques and pigs in anthropogenic environments. Our critical evaluation of this study revealed several substantial issues: the pooling of data from species that are ecologically and behaviourally distinct, an error in data acquisition, potential biases in statistical analyses, and critical misrepresentations of threats to and from wildlife in human‐impacted habitats. Additionally, we highlight the lack of evidence supporting the authors' core assertion of hyperabundance of the study species. While Moore et al. compare species densities and abundance across various habitat types, their analyses did not demonstrate population increases over time. On the contrary, our re‐analysis of their data sets showed a decreasing population trend in Macaca nemestrina and the absence of M. fascicularis from 44% of surveyed habitats characterized by medium to high forest integrity. Further, our findings emphasize the importance of intact forests for predicting a high relative abundance of macaques and pigs. Overall, we recommend a more careful interpretation of the data, as misrepresentations of abundance data can result in negative or sensational discourses about overabundance, which may threaten the conservation of species that often thrive in anthropogenic landscapes.

Abstract Ethnoprimatology, the study of human-primate interactions, is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between human societies and non-human primates in shared environments. The Che Wong tribe, a sub-group of Senoi Orang Asli (Indigenous People), resides in the Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve (WR), where they share their habitat with various primate species. Despite this coexistence for a long time, there is limited documentation on how these primates are utilized within the community. This study aims to fill that gap by documenting the interactions between the Che Wong tribe and local primates species, encompassing various dimensions of human-primate relationships. Data were collected through interviews and surveys with 40 respondents in two villages using the EthnoKITTM tool. The responses were analyzed to identify patterns in primate utilization among the respondents. The results showed that the langurs (Presbytis sp. and Trachypithecus obscurus) were primarily used for food (82.5% and 62.5% respectively), while white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) and siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) were mainly associated with beliefs (30% and 25%). Slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), and long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) were used in multiple ways, including as pets, but less frequently (2.5% to 12.5%). By recognizing primates’ cultural and practical importance to the Che Wong people, this research advocates for conservation strategies that balance traditional practices with efforts to protect primate populations in the Tengku Hassanal WR, such as promoting sustainable use and raising awareness about primate conservation.

A healthy gut microbiome is essential for digestion in primates, for developing the gut immune system, and for defense against pathogen invasion. Next-generation sequencing allows for determining the microbiome composition and enables the continuous monitoring of primate health. To comprehensively analyze the gut microbiome diversity of three endangered primate species at Matang Wildlife Centre-Hylobates abbotti, Macaca fascicularis, and Macaca nemestrina, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 18 phyla, 84 families, 188 genera, and 46 species were successfully classified. H. abbotti exhibited the highest microbial diversity with a distinct microbiome profile from the Macaca species. The presence of Treponema (nonpallidum), Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is critical for gut health, promoting digestion and maintaining the microbial balance. This study highlights the importance of monitoring microbial diversity in captive primates to better understand their health and facilitate the early detection of potential pathogens. This also offers insights into microbiome-based strategies for improving overall animal welfare.

Extracellular vesicles may modify recipient cell behavior through multiple mechanisms, including interacting with the cell surface or internal membrane components and delivering luminal cargo to the cytoplasm. Here, we use a previously established ex vivo approach to investigate the cellular fate of EVs spiked into whole blood samples from nonhuman primate (NHP) and human donors and contrast these findings with results from in vitro assays. We report that EVs are internalized by NHP and human B cells while also associating to some degree with other PBMCs. EVs exhibit greater association with B cells in ex vivo whole blood compared to isolated B cells, suggesting that blood components may promote EV interactions or that cell isolation factors may inhibit this association. Cellular uptake of EVs involves clathrin-dependent endocytosis and may be aided by other pathways, including direct EV-cell membrane fusion. Overall, our data suggest that EV association, including uptake, by B cells occurs in at least two primate species. These findings highlight the potential to develop new strategies to either enhance or inhibit EV tropism toward B cells.

Opposite asymmetry in visual perception of humans and macaques.

Vivovec™ Surface-Engineered Lentiviral Particles Mediate In Vivo CAR T Generation with Potent and Highly Durable Activity in Non-Human Primates

Abstract. Majapun RJ, Paul V, Suis MAF, Khoo E, Guanih VS, Kelvin PKN, En CT, Ajik M. 2024. Evaluating browsing damage to selected taxa in a trial plantation within the Lungmanis Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 25: 3540-3554. The study assessed the impact of wildlife pests on seven tree taxa, including Acacia crassicarpa, Eucalyptus pellita, Falcataria moluccana, Khaya ivorensis, Neolamarckia cadamba, Terminalia copelandii, and Swietenia macrophylla, in trial plantations within Sabah's Lungmanis Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia. Browsing damage was measured for all taxa at two time points (t1 and t2) using three indices (H-Index, S-Index, and PS-Index). The study revealed that E. pellita, A. crassicarpa, and K. ivorensis resisted browsing damage. At the same time, other species, such as N. cadamba and F. moluccana, suffered significant damage, with tree height losses between 50% and 70% due to wildlife pest activity. The study recorded high damage intensity for the PS-Index in the "Shooting" category. It also showed that subplot configurations with open (D) and fenced (A) plots exhibited similar levels of "Shooting," uncovering that some wildlife pests, like Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor (Kerr, 1792)) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina (Linnaeus, 1766)), were not entirely deterred by fencing and repeatedly browsed their preferred taxa. Additionally, N. cadamba was more susceptible to pest defoliators following the browsing damage than other taxa. The research highlights the limitations of fencing as a mitigation measure for wildlife-induced tree damage and underscores the need for a comprehensive wildlife management approach in forest plantations. This includes understanding wildlife behavior and human impact factors beyond population density and emphasizes the importance of species selection and plot configuration in managing wildlife-induced damage.

The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) maintains the largest domestic breeding colony of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in the United States, with animals housed in small to medium-sized social groups. As part of the animal care plan, a programmatic framework is utilized, which integrates clinical care with socialization considerations for nonhuman primates (NHPs). This framework encompasses the following areas: (1) socialization in the clinical setting; (2) positive reinforcement training (PRT); (3) measures to ensure proper identification and medication distribution; and (4) in-group treatments. The success of this framework is demonstrated by the high socialization rate for hospitalized animals (99.5% social pairing success), with the majority of clinical cases (95%) being treated in social groups. Ultimately, this framework seeks to buffer stressors when animals require clinical care or husbandry manipulations. Taken together, the above components foster an environment that provides a comprehensive approach to NHP medical and behavioral management.