Correlates of economic decisions in the dorsal and subgenual anterior cingulate cortices

The anterior cingulate cortex can be divided into distinct ventral (subgenual, sgACC) and dorsal (dACC), portions. The role of dACC in value‐based decision‐making is hotly debated, while the role of sgACC is poorly understood. We recorded neuronal activity in both regions in rhesus macaques performing a token‐gambling task. We find that both encode many of the same variables; including integrated offered values of gambles, primary as well as secondary reward outcomes, number of current tokens and anticipated rewards. Both regions exhibit memory traces for offer values and putative value comparison signals. Both regions use a consistent scheme to encode the value of the attended option. This result suggests that neurones do not appear to be specialized for specific offers (that is, neurones use an attentional as opposed to labelled line coding scheme). We also observed some differences between the two regions: (i) coding strengths in dACC were consistently greater than those in sgACC, (ii) neurones in sgACC responded especially to losses and in anticipation of primary rewards, while those in dACC showed more balanced responding and (iii) responses to the first offer were slightly faster in sgACC. These results indicate that sgACC and dACC have some functional overlap in economic choice, and are consistent with the idea, inspired by neuroanatomy, which sgACC may serve as input to dACC.     

Influenza Virus Infection in Nonhuman Primates

To determine whether nonhuman primates are infected with influenza viruses in nature, we conducted serologic and swab studies among macaques from several parts of the world. Our detection of influenza virus and antibodies to influenza virus raises questions about the role of nonhuman primates in the ecology of influenza.     

Evaluation of an intragastric challenge model for Shigella dysenteriae 1 in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) for the pre‐clinical assessment of Shigella vaccine formulations

Shigellosis is a worldwide disease, characterized by abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and the passage of blood‐ and mucus‐streaked stools. Rhesus monkeys and other primates are the only animals that are naturally susceptible to shigellosis. A suitable animal model is required for the pre‐clinical evaluation of vaccines candidates. In this study, the minimal dose of Shigella dysenteriae1 1617 strain required to produce dysentery in four of five (80% attack rate) monkeys using an escalating dose range for three groups [2 × 10⁸, 2 × 10⁹ and 2 × 10¹⁰ colony forming unit (CFU)] was determined. In addition, the monkeys were re‐infected. The identified optimal challenge dose was 2 × 10⁹ CFU; this dose elicited 60% protection in monkeys when they were re‐challenged with a one log higher dose (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU). The challenge dose, 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU, produced severe dysentery in all monkeys, with one monkey dying within 24 h, elicited 100% protection when re‐challenged with the same dose. All monkeys exhibited immune responses. This study concludes that the rhesus monkey model closely mimics the disease and immune response seen in humans and is a suitable animal model for the pre‐clinical evaluation of Shigella vaccine candidates. Prior infection with the 1617 strain can protect monkeys against subsequent re‐challenges with homologous strains.     

恒河猴IL-4与变异IL-4促进外周血单核细胞向树突状细胞转化功能的比较

 【目的】比较重组的恒河猴IL-4与变异IL-4在促进外周血单核细胞向树突状细胞转化方面功能的异同。【方法】 利用葡聚糖-泛影葡胺梯度离心法分离恒河猴外周血单个核细胞,阴性筛选非CD3+细胞,随后贴壁分离外周血单核细胞并进行流式细胞技术确定筛选结果。将所分离的外周血单核细胞分为阴性对照组,IL-4+GM-CSF组和vIL-4+GM-CSF组进行体外培养,收集细胞并表面染色CD14、CD1a、CD11c和CD83进行流式细胞分析。【结果】 利用三步分离的方法得到了纯度达90%的未激活的外周血单核细胞。培养后的细胞进行流式分析,结果提示与阴性对照组相比,IL-4+GM-CSF组和vIL-4+GM-CSF组细胞的CD14表达明显下降,而CD1a、CD11c和CD83表达明显上调,两实验组间无差别。【结论】 与IL-4相同,vIL-4亦能促进外周血单核细胞转化为树突状细胞。     

Molecular and Phylogenetic Characterization of Novel Papillomaviruses Isolated from Oral and Anogenital Neoplasms of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are a diverse group of host species-specific DNA viruses, etiologically linked with various benign and malignant neoplasms of cutaneous and mucosal epithelia. Here, we describe the detection and characterization of the first two PVs naturally infecting Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), including the determination of their etiological association(s) with the development of original neoplasms. The molecular and phylogenetic analyses were performed on complete genome sequences of Macaca fuscata PV types 1 (MfuPV1) and 2 (MfuPV2), which were completely sequenced in samples of a malignant oral tumor and benign anogenital neoplasm of Japanese macaques, respectively. Subsequently, two type-specific quantitative real-time PCRs were developed to estimate viral loads of MfuPV1 and MfuPV2 and to evaluate their etiological roles. The in silico molecular analyses revealed that both viral genomes encode characteristic PV proteins with conserved functional domains and have a non-coding genomic region with regulatory sequences to regulate and complete the viral life cycle. However, additional experimental evidence is needed to finally confirm the presence and biological functionality of the molecular features of both novel PVs. While MfuPV1, together with PVs identified in other macaques, is classified into the Alphapapillomavirus (Alpha-PV) species 12, MfuPV2 is most likely a representative of the novel viral species within the Alpha-PV genus. Their relatively high viral loads suggest that both PVs are etiologically linked with the development of the original neoplasms.     

Timing of moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy and neonatal outcome in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

BACKGROUND: Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure can contribute to neurodevelopmental deficits in nonhuman primate offspring. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of gestational timing of alcohol exposure on neurobehavior with a nonhuman primate model. METHODS: Sixty-three rhesus monkey infants (Macaca mulatta), from four groups of females, were assessed: (1) an early alcohol-exposed group, in which mothers voluntarily consumed alcohol on gestational days 0 through 50; (2) a mid to late gestation alcohol-exposed group, in which mothers consumed an identical dose on gestation days 50 through 135; (3) a continuous-exposure group, in which mothers consumed an identical dose on days 0 through 135 or days 0 through 165; and (4) controls, in which mothers voluntarily consumed an isocaloric control solution on gestational days 0 through 50, 50 through 135, 0 through 135, or 0 through 165. Data were obtained on offspring for measures of growth and neurobehavior. RESULTS: There were no effects of alcohol on birthweight, gestation length, or ponderal index. Prenatal exposure to alcohol during early gestation significantly decreased scores on infant neurobehavioral tests overall in multivariate tests, after controlling for birthweight. Univariate tests showed that early gestation alcohol exposure was related to reductions in infant orientation and motor maturity. Mid- to late-gestation exposure also resulted in a reduction in motor maturity but did not affect overall neurobehavioral performance in the multivariate tests. CONCLUSIONS: Early-gestation alcohol exposure is as deleterious to neonatal neurobehavior as late-gestation or continuous exposure. Moreover, neurobehavior seems to be a more sensitive marker of early-gestation moderate alcohol exposure than growth parameters. Women who are attempting to become pregnant should minimize frequent social drinking, because subtle neurodevelopmental effects to the fetus may be induced before pregnancy is detected.     

太行山猕猴跟骨性别判别

目的:通过建立判别函数,用猕猴跟骨变量进行性别鉴定.方法:测量太行山猕猴跟骨标本31例(雌19,雄12)的14项变量.运用SPSS13 0进行判别分析.结果:成年猕猴跟骨的性差明显,14项变量中有9项变量性别之间差异有统计学意义.全模型法和逐步法判别分析结果不同,性别正确判别率的范围是90 3%～100 0%.结论:用跟骨某些变量建立判别函数可以有效鉴定猕猴的性别,比较结果表明灵长类(猕猴)和人类性别判别函数具有一定种群特异性.