The abundance and localization of heat shock proteins (HSP)-60, -70, and -90 in the oviductal ampulla of hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) during the menstrual cycle.

The presence of HSPs in female reproductive and their relationship with the steroid hormone fluctuation have been reported in several mammals but not in non-human primates. The present research dealt with the oviductal expression and localization of the more studied HSPs (60, 70, and 90) as well as the morphological changes in the Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) during the follicular, preovulatory, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, western blots, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out. The results of western blot analysis displayed the lowest HSP expression in the luteal phase. The histomorphology showed that the mucosal epithelium consisted of undifferentiated cuboidal cells in follicular and luteal phases and well-distinguishable columnar ciliated and non-ciliated cells during the preovulatory phase. Immunohistochemistry evidenced that the mucosal epithelium contained cytoplasmic and nuclear HSP60, 70, and 90 immunostaining in the follicular and luteal phases. During the preovulatory phase, the non-ciliated cells showed: (i) cytoplasmic HSP60; (ii) nuclear and cytoplasmic HSP90. Ciliated cells showed cytoplasmic and ciliary HSP70 and ciliary HSP90. The stromal cells and myocytes of muscular layer displayed a decreased cytoplasmic HSP60 in the preovulatory phase and nuclear and low cytoplasmic HSP70 throughout the menstrual cycle. Nuclear HSP90 decreased in ampulla stromal cells and the follicular phase myocytes. These findings indicate that the expression pattern of HSP60,70, and 90 is related to the morphofunctional features of the baboon oviductal ampulla during the menstrual cycle and could represent a referent point for further studies in the oviduct of Primates.

Palaeopathological and demographic data reveal conditions of keeping of the ancient baboons at Gabbanat el-Qurud (Thebes, Egypt).

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.

Analysis of the Ability to Skill Formation and Stability of the Formed Skill in Mature Male Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas).

A comparative study of the ability to form a skill, the dynamics of its formation, and repeatability in sexually mature male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) was carried out. It was found that male hamadryas baboons of the study group demonstrate higher learning ability, training level, and repeatability of the formed skill compared to the studied male rhesus monkeys. At the same time, animals of both species demonstrated similar dynamics of skill formation.

Feeding ecology of a highland population of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) at Borena-Sayint National Park, northern Ethiopia.

Studying the diet and feeding behavior of primates is essential to understanding their ecology and designing effective conservation plans. Despite decades of study on the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) in lowland habitats, little is known about the feeding ecology of this species in highland ecosystems. To address this empirical gap, we tracked temporal changes in vegetation abundance and their relation to the dietary choices of hamadryas baboons in highland habitat at Borena-Sayint National Park (BSNP) in northern Ethiopia. We performed behavioral scan sampling on a focal study band of 21-37 hamadryas baboons over a 12-month period. We found that mature and young leaves were the most abundant plant parts throughout the year, while fruits and flowers were the least abundant, with significant seasonal variation that followed the bimodal pattern of rainfall characteristic of the Ethiopian highlands ecosystem. The annual diet of hamadryas baboons at BSNP consisted mostly of fruits (32.0%) and graminoid blades (21.2%), and included 52 food species across 22 families of plants and three families of animals. Food raided from nearby farms accounted for 8.8% of their diet. The availability of fruits and flowers was positively correlated with their consumption, suggesting that these are preferred foods, whereas graminoid blades, and other leaves, appeared to be less preferred foods. The feeding ecology of hamadryas baboons at BSNP differs considerably from that of lowland populations. The well-studied lowland hamadryas baboons in Awash National Park obtain much of their diet from Acacia species and palm fruit, whereas those at BSNP, where Acacia trees are rare and palms are absent, relied on Olinia rochetiana and Rosa abyssinica for a combined 27% of their annual diet. The reliance of hamadryas baboons at BSNP on cultivated crops for nearly one-tenth of their diet leads to conflict with humans and warrants more detailed study so that this issue can be addressed in conservation plans for the area.

Enamel chipping and its ecological correlates in African papionins: Implications for hominin feeding behavior.

African papionins are classic paleoecological referents for fossil hominins. Enamel chips on the teeth of baboons and hominins are argued to represent responses to similar dietary habits; however, a comprehensive analysis of modern papionin chipping is lacking, leaving open the question of analog suitability. Here, we investigate patterns of antemortem enamel chipping across a diverse set of African papionin species occupying a range of ecological niches. We compare papionin chipping frequencies to estimates for Plio-Pleistocene hominins to address hypotheses of habitat and/or dietary similarities. Antemortem chips in seven African papionin species were scored on intact postcanine teeth (P3-M3) using established protocols. Chip size was scored on a tripartite scale. Papio hamadryas and Papio ursinus-two common paleoecological referents-display higher levels of chipping than Plio-Pleistocene hominin taxa (Australopithecus and Paranthropus) posited to have similar dietary habits. Papio populations occupying dry or highly seasonal habitats accumulate more large chips than Papio taxa occupying more mesic habitats, and terrestrial papionins chip their teeth more often than closely related taxa occupying arboreal niches. Chipping is present on the teeth of all Plio-Pleistocene hominins; however, chipping in baboons (P. ursinus and P. hamadryas) consistently exceeds most hominin taxa. Chipping frequencies on their own do not reliably sort taxa into major dietary groupings. We conclude that the large differences in chipping frequency may instead reflect habitat use and food processing idiosyncrasies. Less chipping in Plio-Pleistocene hominin teeth compared to modern Papio is more likely attributable to differences in dental morphology rather than diet.

A Pleistocene assemblage of near-modern Papio hamadryas from the Middle Awash study area, Afar Rift, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess a new assemblage of papionin fossils (n = 143) recovered from later Pleistocene sediments in the Middle Awash study area in the Afar Rift of Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected metric and qualitative data to compare the craniodental and postcranial anatomy of the papionin fossils with subspecies of modern Papio hamadryas and with Plio-Pleistocene African papionins. We also estimated sex and ontogenetic age. RESULTS: The new fossils fit well within the range of morphological variation observed for extant P. hamadryas, overlapping most closely in dental size and proportions with the P. h. cynocephalus individuals in our extant samples, and well within the ranges of P. h. anubis and P. h. hamadryas. The considerable overlap in craniodental anatomy with multiple subspecies precludes subspecific diagnosis. We therefore referred 143 individuals to P. hamadryas ssp. The majority of the individuals assessed for ontogenetic age fell into middle- and old-adult age categories based on the degree of dental wear. Males (26%) were better represented than females (12%) among individuals preserving the canine-premolar honing complex. DISCUSSION: These new near-modern P. hamadryas fossils provide a window into population-level variation in the later Pleistocene. Our findings echo previous suggestions from genomic studies that the papionin family tree may have included a ghost population and provide a basis for future testing of hypotheses regarding hybridization in the recent evolutionary history of this taxon.

Less bins, less baboons: reducing access to anthropogenic food effectively decreases the urban foraging behavior of a troop of chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) in a peri-urban area.

In South Africa, chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) living near peri-urban areas may forage on anthropogenic food. Baboons have been recorded to damage crops, scatter waste from trash bins, and damage homes. A number of methods have been tested over the past 20 years to solve these problems, but none proved successful over the long-term or involved considerable costs. An efficient management system requires a detailed knowledge of how baboon troops proceed and organize during these urban foraging actions. This study examines the response of a troop of baboons to an experimental reduction of anthropogenic food sources in a peri-urban environment, the George campus of Nelson Mandela University (SA). We gradually suppressed access to waste food in trash cans, reducing the amount of anthropogenic food available. This change in food availability led baboons to modify their urban foraging strategy. They compensated for the lack of anthropogenic food by spending more time foraging on natural food and less time in urban areas. However, the troop still exploited waste-free areas during the experiment and even more when the conditions were normal again. Overall, these results show the ability of baboons to adapt to changes in anthropogenic food availability but also that they are highly dependent on this type of resource. Limiting its access is a mitigation strategy that humans must absolutely develop for reaching a high level of coexistence with baboons.

Relationships between the hard and soft dimensions of the nose in Pan troglodytes and Homo sapiens reveal the positions of the nasal tips of Plio-Pleistocene hominids.

By identifying homogeneity in bone and soft tissue covariation patterns in living hominids, it is possible to produce facial approximation methods with interspecies compatibility. These methods may be useful for producing facial approximations of fossil hominids that are more realistic than currently possible. In this study, we conducted an interspecific comparison of the nasomaxillary region in chimpanzees and modern humans with the aim of producing a method for predicting the positions of the nasal tips of Plio-Pleistocene hominids. We addressed this aim by first collecting and performing regression analyses of linear and angular measurements of nasal cavity length and inclination in modern humans (Homo sapiens; n = 72) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes; n = 19), and then performing a set of out-of-group tests. The first test was performed on four subjects that belonged to the same genus as the training sample, i.e., Homo (n = 2) and Pan (n = 2), and the second test, which functioned as an interspecies compatibility test, was performed on Pan paniscus (n = 1), Gorilla gorilla (n = 3), Pongo pygmaeus (n = 1), Pongo abelli (n = 1), Symphalangus syndactylus (n = 3), and Papio hamadryas (n = 3). We identified statistically significant correlations in both humans and chimpanzees with slopes that displayed homogeneity of covariation. Prediction formulae combining these data were found to be compatible with humans and chimpanzees as well as all other African great apes, i.e., bonobos and gorillas. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that our set of regression models for approximating the position of the nasal tip are homogenous among humans and African apes, and can thus be reasonably extended to ancestors leading to these clades.

Respect for males amid suppression of females: Selective use of aggression and fitness correlates in the male-dominated society of hamadryas baboons.

Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) are a useful model for human social evolution for multiple reasons, including their multilevel society, intense cross-sex bonds, and intermale tolerance. Their most stable social grouping, the one-male unit (OMU)-comprising a leader male, females, and sometimes follower males-is formed via successive takeovers of individual females by males. While takeovers occur via both aggressive and non-aggressive mechanisms, aggressive herding is common during and after takeovers and appears crucial in maintaining OMUs. Here we use behavioral and demographic data from Filoha, Ethiopia to examine the relationship between aggressive takeovers and fitness correlates. We found no relationship between a male's percentage of takeovers that were aggressive and his presumed number of infants sired, nor his number of females or followers. However, we did find that a leader male's average intensity of aggression toward both other males and females around the time of a takeover was negatively related to his presumed number of infants sired. In addition, a leader male's average intensity of aggression toward other males was negatively related to his maximum number of followers. Finally, leader males exhibited more intense aggression toward females in interband, compared to intraband, takeovers. Our findings suggest that (1) leader males who limit their aggression toward other males may have greater success in attracting followers, thereby increasing their fitness via enhanced defense of the OMU; (2) exceptionally aggressive takeovers may lead to lower birth rates via female reproductive suppression; and (3) the extent to which males use aggression toward females depends on the context in which the takeover occurs. Overall, these results both suggest that hamadryas males use aggression selectively and underscore the ubiquity of intermale tolerance and female suppression in the hamadryas social system. This study lends insight into the interplay between male-female and male-male social dynamics during human evolution.

Laparoscopic salpingectomy in Papio hamadryas for birth control in captivity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic salpingectomy in baboons (Papio hamadryas). We hypothesized that laparoscopic salpingectomy could be performed in baboon species within a reasonable amount of surgical time, with minor complications occurring at low rates. STUDY DESIGN: Case series and technique description. ANIMALS: Sixteen baboons (n = 16). METHODS: The surgical procedures were performed using the 3-port technique, with 5 mm instruments and a telescope placed at the umbilical and hypogastric regions. A salpinx dissection was performed, using a radiofrequency bipolar vessel sealing device, from the fimbriae to the uterine attachments. We evaluated the surgical duration, learning curve, and intraoperative and early postoperative complications. RESULTS: Ten adult and 6 subadult baboons with a mean weight of 9.32 kg, a range of 4-14.2 kg, and a standard deviation (SD) of 3.09 kg were included in the study. The total duration of surgery was 28.75 min (range, 16-50 min; SD, 9.60 min). The installation phase was completed in a mean time of 7.68 min (range, 3-15 min; SD, 3.43 min), and the time to complete the salpingectomy of both salpinges was 9.68 min (range, 4-20 min; SD, 3.97 min). No complications were observed in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic salpingectomy in Papio hamadryas was feasible, with an acceptable surgical time, low invasiveness, and only minor technical perioperative complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Laparoscopic salpingectomy could be a viable and safe therapeutic option in nonhuman primate birth-control programs.

Study the Differences between the Parameters of Learning and Exploratory Activities in Adult Male Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and Baboon Hamadryas (Papio hamadryas).

We studied exploratory activity and learning ability in sexually mature male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). The interspecies differences were analyzed by the following parameters: the level of exploratory activity, diversity of exploratory activity, concentration on the object, learning ability, training levels, and dynamics of learning. The studied group of hamadryas baboons showed higher levels of exploratory activity and learning ability than the group of rhesus monkeys.

Using social network analysis to inform on the process of one-male-unit formation of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in captivity.

Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) live in a complex multilevel social system with the one-male-unit (OMU) at the core. OMUs consist of an adult alpha male with one or several adult females, their dependent offspring and, sometimes a few follower males. Previous research has documented that OMUs form in four distinct ways in wild populations. In December 2015, Oakland Zoo introduced two juvenile males into the hamadryas baboon exhibit. At the time of this study, these males were approaching sexual maturity. The complex social structure of this species and the changing social dynamics that might result as they reach sexual maturity provide a unique opportunity to utilize social network analysis (SNA) methods to examine OMU formation in a captive setting with an eye toward potential management strategies. SNA is a visualization method of looking at social data that allows researchers to understand sociality in terms of the importance of each individual, any subgroups, as well as the larger overall group dynamic. Behavioral and proximity data were collected over 6 months (July-December 2019). These data were then transformed into networks to analyze the two now subadult males' behavior over time. We found that one of the subadult males began the formation of his first OMU following one of the four pathways found in wild studies. Despite changing group dynamics, overall group cohesion remained unchanged. This study reveals hamadryas OMU formation patterns in captivity following the initial unit pathway as well as suggests potential welfare management issues that might arise.

Effect of Pregnancy and Age on Alopecia in Adult Female Baboons (Papio hamadryas spp).

Alopecia occurs frequently in captive populations of nonhuman primates. Because multiple factors can play a role in alopecia, a better understanding of its etiology will help identify potential welfare concerns. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for alopecia in a breeding colony of baboons with a focus on pregnancy and age. Alopecia was scored on a scale of 0 (no alopecia) to 5 (severe alopecia) in 253 female baboons during routine physicals. The subjects ranged in age from 4 to 23 y (Mean = 9.6) and were categorized as pregnant (n = 83), nursing (n = 60) or control (n = 110). Resulting alopecia scores were combined into 2 categories (mild = 0 or 1; moderate = 2 or 3); no animals scored a 4 or 5. Significantly more pregnant females had moderate alopecia than did control females. There was no effect of age on alopecia. An unexpected outcome was that among nursing females, more of those with female infants had moderate alopecia than did those with male infants. The impact of the infant's sex on alopecia may be due to sex differences in maternal contact or maternal investment. This information adds to our understanding of alopecia risk factors in captive nonhuman primates.

The utility of social network analysis for informing zoo management: Changing network dynamics of a group of captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) following an introduction of two young males.

Comprehensive knowledge of social groups within zoos allows for better understanding of the issues surrounding group stability and how to provide captive animals with optimal care. A developing area of sociality research that works to improve this understanding is social network analysis (SNA), which allows scientists to apply quantitative measures of group systems to represent social structure. In December 2015, Oakland Zoo introduced two new males to the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) exhibit. We examined the changing group structure of these baboons over the course of 6 months (July-December 2016) using social network analysis, specifically focusing on the changing social structure of the existing group and the utility of SNA methods for optimal care of captive animals. This study found that over time, the new males decreased their overall individual centrality, while some individuals had an increase in betweenness, a measure of an individual's intermediary role in the network. The results also illustrate the utility of social network analysis as tool for zoo management to examine how husbandry may have an impact on their animals, specifically for social species. Further research on the social networks of hamadryas baboon multi-clan formation could provide more information about the societal structure of this primate species, as well as the use of social network analysis as a valuable tool in captive animal management.

Home range, sleeping site use, and band fissioning in hamadryas baboons: Improved estimates using GPS collars.

Variation in spatial and temporal distribution of resources drives animal movement patterns. Links between ecology and behavior are particularly salient for the multilevel society of hamadryas baboons, in which social units cleave and coalesce over time in response to ecological factors. Here, we used data from GPS collars to estimate home range size and assess temporal patterns of sleeping site use in a band of hamadryas baboons in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. We used GPS data derived from 2 to 3 collared baboons over three 8-12-month collaring intervals to estimate annual and monthly home ranges using kernel density estimators (KDEs) and minimum convex polygons (MCPs). The 95% KDE home range was 64.11 km2 for Collaring Interval I (July 2015-March 2016), 85.52 km2 for Collaring Interval II (October 2016-October 2017), 76.43 km2 for Collaring Interval III (July 2018-May 2019), and 75.25 km2 across all three collaring intervals. MCP home ranges were 103.46 km2 for Collaring Interval I, 97.90 km2 for Collaring Interval II, 105.22 km2 for Collaring Interval III, and 129.33 km2 overall. Ninety-five percent KDE home range sizes did not differ across months, nor correlate with temperature or precipitation, but monthly MCP home ranges increased with monthly precipitation. Our data also revealed a southward home range shift over time and seven previously unknown sleeping sites, three of which were used more often during the wet season. Band cohesion was highest during dry months and lowest during wet months, with fissioning occurring more frequently at higher temperatures. One pair of collared individuals from Collaring Interval III spent 95% of nights together, suggesting they were members of the same clan. Our results both suggest that previous studies have underestimated the home range size of hamadryas baboons and highlight the benefits of remote data collection.

West Nile Virus Seroprevalence in an Outdoor Nonhuman Primate Breeding Colony in South Florida.

West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in Florida in July 2001, with 404 human cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of February 2020. The subtropical climate of Florida is ideal for the mosquitoes that transmit WNV. We investigated the WNV seroprevalence in 3 NHP species housed outdoors at The Mannheimer Foundation in South Florida. From January to December 2016, 520 3 to 30 y old NHP were sampled at our 2 closed sites in Homestead and LaBelle: 200 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), 212 cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and 108 hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas). The presence of WNV IgG antibodies in these animals was determined by serum neutralization assays, which found a total seroprevalence of 14%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in the baboons (29%) than the rhesus (11%) and cynomolgus (9%) macaques. The probability of seropositivity significantly increased with age, but sex and site did not significantly affect seroprevalence. The frequency of WNV seropositivity detected in these outdoor-housed NHP suggests that screening for WNV and other vector-borne diseases may be necessary prior to experimental use, particularly for infectious disease studies in which viremia or viral antibodies could confound results, and especially for populations housed outdoors in warm, wet climates. As no seropositive subjects demonstrated clinical signs of WNV and WNV exposure did not appear to significantly impact colony health, routine testing is likely unnecessary for most NHP colonies. However, WNV infection should still be considered as a differential diagnosis for any NHP presenting with nonspecific neurologic signs. Mosquito abatement plans and vigilant sanitation practices to further decrease mosquito and avian interaction with research NHP should also be considered.

Mummified baboons reveal the far reach of early Egyptian mariners.

The Red Sea was witness to important events during human history, including the first long steps in a trade network (the spice route) that would drive maritime technology and shape geopolitical fortunes for thousands of years. Punt was a pivotal early node in the rise of this enterprise, serving as an important emporium for luxury goods, including sacred baboons (Papio hamadryas), but its location is disputed. Here, we use geospatial variation in the oxygen and strontium isotope ratios of 155 baboons from 77 locations to estimate the geoprovenance of mummified baboons recovered from ancient Egyptian temples and tombs. Five Ptolemaic specimens of P. anubis (404-40 BC) showed evidence of long-term residency in Egypt prior to mummification, consistent with a captive breeding program. Two New Kingdom specimens of P. hamadryas were sourced to a region that encompasses much of present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, and portions of Somalia and Yemen. This result is a testament to the tremendous reach of Egyptian seafaring during the 2nd millennium BC. It also corroborates the balance of scholarly conjecture on the location of Punt.

Strontium is a chemical element that can act as a geographic fingerprint: its composition differs between locations, and as it enters the food chain, it can help to retrace the life history of extant or past animals. In particular, strontium in teeth ­ which stop to develop early ­ can reveal where an individual was born; strontium in bone and hair, on the other hand, can show where it lived just before death. Together, these analyses may hold the key to archaeological mysteries, such as the location of a long-lost kingdom revered by ancient Egyptians. For hundreds of years, the Land of Punt was one of Egypt's strongest trading partners, and a place from which to import premium incense and prized monkeys. Travellers could reach Punt by venturing south and east of Egypt, suggesting that the kingdom occupied the southern Red Sea region. Yet its exact location is still highly debated. To investigate, Dominy et al. examined the mummies of baboons present in ancient Egyptian tombs, and compared the strontium compositions of the bones, hair and teeth of these remains with the ones found in baboons living in various regions across Africa. This shed a light on the origins of the ancient baboons: while some were probably raised in captivity in Egypt, others were born in modern Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen ­ areas already highlighted as potential locations for the Land of Punt. The work by Dominy et al. helps to better understand the ancient trade routes that shaped geopolitical fortunes for millennia. It also highlights the need for further archaeological research in Eritrea and Somalia, two areas which are currently understudied.

Protection of Pancreatic Islets Using Theranostic Silencing Nanoparticles in a Baboon Model of Islet Transplantation.

The long-term success of pancreatic islet transplantation (Tx) as a cure for type 1 diabetes remains limited. Islet loss after Tx related to apoptosis, inflammation, and other factors continues to limit Tx efficacy. In this project, we demonstrate a novel approach aimed at protecting islets before Tx in nonhuman primates (NHPs) (baboons) by silencing a gene (caspase-3) responsible for induction of apoptosis. This was done using siRNA (siCas-3) conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles (MNs). In addition to serving as carriers for siCas-3, these nanoparticles also act as reporters for MRI, so islets labeled with MN-siCas-3 can be monitored in vivo after Tx. In vitro studies showed the antiapoptotic effect of MN-siCas-3 on islets in culture, resulting in minimal islet loss. For in vivo studies, donor baboon islets were labeled with MN-siCas-3 and infused into recipient diabetic subjects. A dramatic reduction in insulin requirements was observed in animals transplanted with even a marginal number of labeled islets compared with controls. By demonstrating the protective effect of MN-siCas-3 in the challenging NHP model, this study proposes a novel strategy to minimize the number of donor islets required from either cadaveric or living donors.

Cation channel conductance and pH gating of the innate immunity factor APOL1 are governed by pore-lining residues within the C-terminal domain.

The human innate immunity factor apolipoprotein L-I (APOL1) protects against infection by several protozoan parasites, including Trypanosoma brucei brucei Endocytosis and acidification of high-density lipoprotein-associated APOL1 in trypanosome endosomes leads to eventual lysis of the parasite due to increased plasma membrane cation permeability, followed by colloid-osmotic swelling. It was previously shown that recombinant APOL1 inserts into planar lipid bilayers at acidic pH to form pH-gated nonselective cation channels that are opened upon pH neutralization. This corresponds to the pH changes encountered during endocytic recycling, suggesting APOL1 forms a cytotoxic cation channel in the parasite plasma membrane. Currently, the mechanism and domains required for channel formation have yet to be elucidated, although a predicted helix-loop-helix (H-L-H) was suggested to form pores by virtue of its similarity to bacterial pore-forming colicins. Here, we compare recombinant human and baboon APOL1 orthologs, along with interspecies chimeras and individual amino acid substitutions, to identify regions required for channel formation and pH gating in planar lipid bilayers. We found that whereas neutralization of glutamates within the H-L-H may be important for pH-dependent channel formation, there was no evidence of H-L-H involvement in either pH gating or ion selectivity. In contrast, we found two residues in the C-terminal domain, tyrosine 351 and glutamate 355, that influence pH gating properties, as well as a single residue, aspartate 348, that determines both cation selectivity and pH gating. These data point to the predicted transmembrane region closest to the APOL1 C terminus as the pore-lining segment of this novel channel-forming protein.

Adenovirus Infections in African Humans and Wild Non-Human Primates: Great Diversity and Cross-Species Transmission.

Non-human primates (NHPs) are known hosts for adenoviruses (AdVs), so there is the possibility of the zoonotic or cross-species transmission of AdVs. As with humans, AdV infections in animals can cause diseases that range from asymptomatic to fatal. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and diversity of AdVs in: (i) fecal samples of apes and monkeys from different African countries (Republic of Congo, Senegal, Djibouti and Algeria), (ii) stool of humans living near gorillas in the Republic of Congo, in order to explore the potential zoonotic risks. Samples were screened by real-time and standard PCRs, followed by the sequencing of the partial DNA polymerase gene in order to identify the AdV species. The prevalence was 3.3 folds higher in NHPs than in humans. More than 1/3 (35.8%) of the NHPs and 1/10 (10.5%) of the humans excreted AdVs in their feces. The positive rate was high in great apes (46%), with a maximum of 54.2% in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and 35.9% in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), followed by monkeys (25.6%), with 27.5% in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) and 23.1% in baboons (seven Papio papio and six Papio hamadryas). No green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) were found to be positive for AdVs. The AdVs detected in NHPs were members of Human mastadenovirus E (HAdV-E), HAdV-C or HAdV-B, and those in the humans belonged to HAdV-C or HAdV-D. HAdV-C members were detected in both gorillas and humans, with evidence of zoonotic transmission since phylogenetic analysis revealed that gorilla AdVs belonging to HAdV-C were genetically identical to strains detected in humans who had been living around gorillas, and, inversely, a HAdV-C member HAdV type was detected in gorillas. This confirms the gorilla-to-human transmission of adenovirus. which has been reported previously. In addition, HAdV-E members, the most often detected here, are widely distributed among NHP species regardless of their origin, i.e., HAdV-E members seem to lack host specificity. Virus isolation was successful from a human sample and the strain of the Mbo024 genome, of 35 kb, that was identified as belonging to HAdV-D, exhibited close identity to HAdV-D members for all genes. This study provides information on the AdVs that infect African NHPs and the human populations living nearby, with an evident zoonotic transmission. It is likely that AdVs crossed the species barrier between different NHP species (especially HAdV-E members), between NHPs and humans (especially HAdV-C), but also between humans, NHPs and other animal species.