Articles tagged with Nonhuman Primates
Researchers identified a genetic mutation in nonhuman primates that closely resembles Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a rare and progressive disorder affecting the central nervous system. The discovery was made possible by a massive genomic database built at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center.
Researchers studied how dominant and tolerant primate species communicate vocally. They found that more tolerant species use communication to achieve goals, while despotic species rely on aggression. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, provides insights into the evolution of vocal communication in primates.
A recent study found that life expectancy and lifespan equality in humans and non-human primates are not driven by aging rate, but by early life mortality rates. The researchers analyzed data from nine human populations and 30 non-human primate groups, revealing a strong relationship between early-life deaths and population aging.
The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) has been awarded $37 million from the NIH to house and care for nearly 2,500 non-human primates. The funding will support critical work in finding new treatments and vaccines against infectious diseases.
A study published on Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology found successful neural regeneration from brain internal glial cells for stroke repair in rhesus macaque monkeys. This gene therapy approach regenerates new neurons while also protecting injured neurons from secondary damage.
Researchers found that a pre-epidemic Zika virus mutation enhanced virulence and fitness for transmission, increasing maternal-to-fetal transmission in nonhuman primates. The mutation did not affect mosquito-borne infection but increased the virus's ability to spread through human populations.
A multi-institutional research team found that humans and non-human primates can represent recursive sequences, suggesting a universal cognitive ability. The study's findings dispel the long-held belief that only humans possess this capacity.
A team of Brown University researchers used a brain-computer interface to reconstruct English words from neural signals recorded in the brains of nonhuman primates. The study showed that neural data produced high-fidelity reconstructions that were clear to a human listener, using multielectrode arrays for the first time.
Researchers found that relapses are clinically silent, but gametocytes continue to circulate and may infect mosquitoes. The study uses nonhuman primates to assess pathogenesis and host responses during relapses.
Researchers review 200 years of non-human primate interactions with their dead, observing behaviors like defense of deceased companions and emotional responses. The study reveals a complex cognitive understanding of death among primates, including an ability to grasp objects and distinguish between living and dead.
Researchers have developed a synthetic DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody that rapidly protects mice and non-human primates from Zika infection. The DMAb-ZK190 platform has shown promise in controlling infection and reducing viral loads, providing a potential alternative to existing prevention methods.
Researchers found that infants' precise tuning to their native language influences the range of human languages they link to cognition. Listening to human languages, including native and non-native ones, engages infants' speech processing system.
Researchers have developed a two-antibody cocktail that protects nonhuman primates and ferrets against lethal Ebola virus infections of multiple strains. The breakthrough offers potential for a single-dose treatment to reduce healthcare worker burden during outbreaks.
Researchers found that Cameroonian adults frequently interact with nonhuman primates through hunting, butchering, and consuming meat. This exposure puts people at risk of infection with new diseases, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and safe handling practices.
Research on marmoset monkeys found that both internal states, such as arousal levels, and external factors, like timing of another monkey's vocalizations, impact vocalization changes. The study suggests a complex relationship between vocal production in nonhuman primates, with potential implications for understanding human communication.
Nonhuman primates modify their vocalizations based on listener presence, kinship, and rival interactions. Flexible usage of vocalization may link nonlinguistic communication to language development.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a treatment for Lassa fever that provides 100% protection against the deadly virus in nonhuman primates, even when administered up to eight days after exposure. The treatment uses monoclonal antibodies and has been shown to be well-tolerated.
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences create SHANK3-deficient non-human primate model, showing significant reduction in postsynaptic proteins and mature neurons. The study highlights the critical role of SHANK3 in early brain development and its potential for advancing autism research.
Scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of gene editing in rhesus monkey embryos, paving the way for new therapies and treatments. The breakthrough opens up possibilities for human disease research, including neurological and reproductive conditions.
A new study reports that one human monoclonal antibody therapy, MR191-N, protected nonhuman primates from the lethal effects of both Marburg and Ravn viruses. The treatment showed success in clearing the viruses and preventing death in infected animals.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that baboons produce five distinct vowel-like sounds similar to those used in human speech. The anatomy of the baboon's vocal tract also reveals similarities with the human tongue, indicating a shared mechanism for forming these sounds.
Researchers evaluated two adeno-associated virus vectors in non-human primates to assess gene expression efficiency and immunogenicity. The results provide insight into the safety and effectiveness of these gene therapy approaches before initiating clinical trials in humans.
New ape study demonstrates nonhuman primates can recognize others' beliefs, desires, and intentions, a phenomenon called Theory of Mind (ToM), previously thought to be exclusive to humans. Apes correctly anticipated that humans would search for an object in the wrong location based on their knowledge.
A study from the University of Kent found that wild-born bonobos can efficiently crack nuts with a skill level similar to chimpanzees. The research analyzed the behaviour of 18 bonobos at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary, revealing diverse manipulative abilities and unique hand-use strategies.
A new study finds that humans have the highest number of cortical neurons among primates, but the prefrontal region's size is similar to non-human primates. Cooking allowed early humans to overcome energetic barriers, enabling brain growth and development.
Studies on nonhuman primates spark debate over ethics of infection challenges, with experts arguing for stricter safeguards to balance human need with animal welfare
Scientists have discovered two new strains of the HTLV-4 virus in hunters bitten by gorillas in Gabon, supporting the notion that gorillas are a major source of infectious agents. The findings suggest that gorilla bites can lead to chronic persistence of the virus in humans.
The HAMMER project aims to identify host features associated with malaria resilience and develop interventions to enhance it. By studying the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi in humans and non-human primates, researchers hope to create new therapeutic strategies for severe malaria cases.
A single monoclonal antibody isolated from an Ebola survivor protected non-human primates even after lethal infection, offering hope for a potential treatment. The findings suggest a novel site of vulnerability on the Ebola virus and may lead to effective therapy.
A new antiviral compound, GS-5734, has shown 100% survival rate and significant reduction in viral load in infected rhesus monkeys. The compound's ability to block the virus's replication process suggests its potential as a treatment for Ebola virus disease.
Researchers found a clear age effect in human children's ability to use tools, with 2-year-olds struggling but improving by 4 years old. In contrast, nonhuman primates rely on their sense of touch, known as haptic senses, to complete spatial reasoning tasks.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that an experimental compound, AVI-7288, protected nonhuman primates against the deadly Marburg virus. The compound showed efficacy even when administered after exposure to the virus. Phase I clinical trial results also indicated safety and tolerability.
Researchers studied wild bearded capuchin monkeys cracking nuts using stone hammers and found they modulate strikes based on the condition of the nutshell. This sophisticated ability suggests a cognitive accomplishment.
A study found that humans are more commonly afflicted with spinal disease due to their unique vertebrae shape, which shares similarities with non-human primates. Researchers studied human, chimpanzee, and orangutan vertebrae to uncover the link between vertebral shape and disc herniation.
A study by Timothy M. Ryan and Colin N. Shaw found that the agriculturalists had significantly lower bone mass than foragers, while the bone characteristics of more mobile foragers overlapped with those of nonhuman primates.
Researchers found that subtle shifts in frontal and parietal lobes of the brain are linked to superior cognition. The frontoparietal network plays a key role in analysis, memory retrieval, abstract thinking, and problem-solving.
Research on tool use by primates suggests that ecological opportunity, rather than necessity, is the main driver behind their use of tools. The study found that tool use was not influenced by food scarcity, but rather by calorie-rich and hard-to-reach resources.
A nasal vaccine in development has been shown to provide long-term protection for non-human primates against the deadly Ebola virus. The vaccine platform has significant global implications in controlling future outbreaks, which could have a fatality rate as low as 25-90%.
Scientists applied iPS cell technology to a transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntington's disease, developing cellular features of the condition and discovering potential therapies for oxidative stress. This approach could aid in the discovery and evaluation of other treatments for the disorder.
Researchers at UTMB have developed a treatment effective against the lethal Marburg virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 90%. The treatment protected nonhuman primates from the virus when started three days after infection, showing promise for post-exposure treatment.
A new study by Liza Shapiro at the University of Texas at Austin contradicts earlier claims that quadrupedal humans are a product of backward evolution. The research, published in PLOS One, shows that people with Uner Tan Syndrome (UTS) walk on all fours but use lateral sequences, not diagonal patterns characteristic of nonhuman primates.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a human monoclonal antibody, m102.4, that protects nonhuman primates from Nipah virus disease even five days after infection. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a therapeutic treatment for people infected with the deadly virus.
Researchers found that non-human primate vocalizations promoted object categorization in 3- and 4-month-old infants, similar to the effects of human speech. By six months, however, this effect disappeared, suggesting a specific link to human language has been established.
A study comparing mortality and fertility patterns among wild apes and monkeys to humans shows that human females are unique in living beyond their childbearing years. Half of women experience menopause by age 50, and fertility declines earlier than the rest of the body.
Geladas' vocal lip-smacks exhibit speech-like undulating rhythms, matching human speech patterns. This finding supports the idea that lip-smacking could be an evolutionary step toward human speech.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that rhesus monkeys prefer a highly-valued food item alone to the same item paired with a lower-value item. This behavior is similar to what has been seen in human studies, where participants rated a highly-valued item more highly than one with multiple items of lesser value.
Researchers studied Campbell's monkeys and found that females pick up habits from each other through grooming and contact calls. The study suggests that human speech evolved gradually from ancestral primate vocalisations and social patterns, influenced by environmental factors rather than genetic predisposition alone.
Researchers have discovered a new therapy that increases good cholesterol and lowers triglycerides, showing promise in combating cardiovascular disease. The treatment, which targets microRNA-33, has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels in non-human primates.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have defined three distinct processing stages for human speech recognition, mirroring those found in non-human primates. These findings provide insights into the complex workings of the human auditory brain and its role in processing language.
A mosquito-borne virus that infected monkeys may cause human outbreaks if it adapts to urban mosquitoes, warns a new study. The 'fever from the forest' dengue virus has spread globally, causing 100 million cases annually and 50,000 deaths.
Research in Guinea reveals why chimpanzees attack humans, highlighting the importance of habitat conservation to prevent resource-based attacks. The team studied eleven attacks, finding that they occurred during periods of crop-raiding and food scarcity.
A groundbreaking study has shown that a novel treatment using small interfering RNAs can protect monkeys from lethal Ebola virus infection after exposure. The treatment was found to be well-tolerated and offered complete protection in some cases, paving the way for further research and potential human trials.
Researchers found SIV-infected African wild chimpanzees died prematurely and developed hallmarks of HIV-1 infection, contradicting previous assumption that infected primates wouldn't develop AIDS. Yerkes contributed key comparative data on SIV-infected and uninfected sooty mangabeys, shedding light on mechanisms behind natural immunity.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center have developed the first transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntington's disease, a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The model is expected to help researchers better understand the disease and develop more effective therapies.
Scientists have discovered conclusive evidence of Alzheimer's-like neurofibrillary brain tangles in an aged nonhuman primate, a breakthrough that could help understand why humans develop neurodegenerative diseases. The finding also paves the way for new treatments and therapies targeting beta-amyloid protein.
Research finds symmetry and sexual dimorphism in human faces are related to attractiveness, supporting the idea that they signal genetic quality. The study also reveals similar patterns in non-human primates and different human populations, indicating universal signals of quality.
A commentary in Biological Psychiatry highlights attacks on medical researchers conducting non-human primate research, emphasizing their vital role in psychiatric disorder treatment. The authors condemn these acts and advocate for public action to protect scientists.
A new study by Harvard researchers found that non-human primates infer intentions based on rational action, not just surface-level appearances. The primates chose the most accessible food container in each scenario, demonstrating a human-like understanding of others' goals and actions.
Research suggests that prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids can have deleterious effects on newborns, impairing growth, glucose regulation, and cortisol production. High levels of dexamethasone impaired postnatal development, leading to increased blood pressure and changes in cardiometabolic function.
Research suggests that present-day non-human primates, such as rhesus monkeys and macaques, use brain regions similar to those in humans to process species-specific vocalizations. This finding bolsters the hypothesis that a shared ancestor possessed the neural mechanisms for language, which may have evolved in humans.