HIV-2/SIV Vpx antagonises NF-𝜅B activation by targeting p65

The NF-𝜅B family of transcription factors and associated signalling pathways are abundant and ubiquitous in human immune responses. Activation of NF-𝜅B transcription factors by viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as viral RNA and DNA, is fundamental to anti-viral innate immune defences and pro-inflammatory cytokine production that steers adaptive immune responses. Diverse non-viral stimuli, such as lipopolysaccharide and cytokines, also activate NF-𝜅B and the same anti-pathogen gene networks. Viruses adapted to human cells often encode multiple proteins aimed at varied NF-𝜅B pathway targeted to mitigate the anti-viral effects of NF-𝜅B-dependent host immunity. In this study we have demonstrated using numerous assays, in a number of different cell types, that plasmid-encoded or virus-delivered Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) accessory protein Vpx is a broad antagonist of NF-𝜅B signalling active against diverse innate NF-𝜅B agonists. Using targeted Vpx mutagenesis, we showed that this novel Vpx phenotype is independent of known Vpx cofactor DCAF1 and other cellular binding partners, including SAMHD1, STING and the HUSH complex. We found that Vpx co-immunoprecipitated with canonical NF-𝜅B transcription factor p65 and not NF-𝜅B transcription factor proteins p50 or p100, preventing nuclear translocation of p65, a novel mechanism of NF-𝜅B antagonism by lentiviruses. We found that broad antagonism of NF-𝜅B activation by Vpx was conserved across distantly related lentiviruses as well as for Vpr from SIV Mona monkey (SIVmon), which has Vpx-like SAMHD1-degradation activity.

Food preference of captive mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) in University of Lagos, Nigeria

In the wild, nonhuman primates' preferences for some food may not be quite clear due to the seasonality and utilization of fallback foods during periods of scarcity. Understanding the most preferred foods could aid schedules of serving them to captive primates. Against this background, the study was carried out to determine the food preference of captive mona monkeys offered foods consumed by their counterparts in the degraded and fragmented urban forest, biodiversity rich rainforest, and in a zoo. The feeding trials were conducted in the service area of the University of Lagos. Four adult monkeys (two males and two females) were offered weighed amounts of 13 different foods served in batches of five, using the cafeteria method. Each food type was offered separately in a food trough at 10:00 hrs each day. Left over was withdrawn and measured after 24 hours. Position of the food trough was changed every day. Water was provided ad libitum in a water trough. The difference between offered and left-over weights was regarded as intake. Food preference was determined from the coefficient of preference (COP), and a unitary value was considered preferred. In decreasing order of preference, the preferred foods that had COP ≥ 1 were Musa sapientum, Zea mays, and Solanum melongena. The mona monkey and other sympatric species held in captivity could be provided with these foods in addition to other foods that could meet their nutritional needs. Nutritional assays of these foods could provide clues to their being preferred above others. Dans la nature, les préférences des primates non humains pour certains aliments peuvent ne pas être tout à fait claires en raison de la saisonnalité et de l'utilisation des aliments de remplacement pendant les périodes de pénurie. Comprendre les aliments les plus préférés pourrait faciliter les horaires de les servir aux primates captifs. Dans ce contexte, l'étude a été menée pour estimer la préférence alimentaire des singes mona en captivité qui offraient des aliments consommés par leurs homologues dans la forêt urbaine dégradée et fragmentée, la forêt tropicale riche en biodiversité et dans un zoo. Les essais d'alimentation ont été menés dans l’aire de service de l'Université de Lagos. Quatre singes adultes (deux mâles et deux femelles) se sont vus offrir des quantités pesées de 13 aliments différents servis par lots de cinq, en utilisant la méthode de la cafétéria. Chaque type de nourriture était offert 184 séparément dans une auge à 10 h chaque jour. Le surplus a été prélevé et mesuré après 24 heures. La position de l'auge a été changée chaque jour. L'eau était fournie à volonté dans un bac à eau. La différence entre le poids offert et le poids restant a été considérée comme un apport. La préférence alimentaire a été déterminée à partir du coefficient de préférence (COP), et une valeur unitaire a été considérée comme préférée. Par ordre décroissant de préférence, les aliments préférés qui avaient un COP ≥ 1 étaient Musa sapientum, Zeamays et Solanummelongena. Le singe mona et d'autres espèces sympatriques gardées en captivité pourraient recevoir ces aliments en plus d'autres aliments qui pourraient répondre à leurs besoins nutritionnels. Les dosages nutritionnels de ces aliments pourraient fournir des indices sur leur préférence aux autres.

Population Genomics Reveals Incipient Speciation, Introgression, and Adaptation in the African Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona)

Guenons (tribe Cercopithecini) are the most widely distributed nonhuman primate in the tropical forest belt of Africa and show considerable phenotypic, taxonomic, and ecological diversity. However, genomic information for most species within this group is still lacking. Here, we present a high-quality de novo genome (total 2.90 Gb, contig N50 equal to 22.7 Mb) of the mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona), together with genome resequencing data of 13 individuals sampled across Nigeria. Our results showed differentiation between populations from East and West of the Niger River ∼84 ka and potential ancient introgression in the East population from other mona group species. The PTPRK, FRAS1, BNC2, and EDN3 genes related to pigmentation displayed signals of introgression in the East population. Genomic scans suggest that immunity genes such as AKT3 and IL13 (possibly involved in simian immunodeficiency virus defense), and G6PD, a gene involved in malaria resistance, are under positive natural selection. Our study gives insights into differentiation, natural selection, and introgression in guenons.

Prevalence and morphotype diversity of Trichuris species and other soil-transmitted helminths in captive non-human primates in northern Nigeria

A study to determine the prevalence and morphotype diversity of soil-transmitted helminths in captive non-human primates (NHPs) in northern Nigeria was conducted. Simple flotation and sedimentation methods were used to examine fecal samples. A Morphometric analysis was done on Trichuris spp. eggs to determine the diversity of whipworm circulating in NHPs in the study area. High prevalence (60%) of infection was recorded in captive NHPs; Patas Monkey (n=17), Tantalus Monkey (n=9), Mona Monkey (n=7), Vervet Monkey (n=2), Mangabey Monkey (n=1), Baboon (n=14), and Chimpanzee (n=8) from parks and zoological gardens located in four Nigerian states (Borno, Gombe, Kano, and Plateau) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Captive NHPs examined were infected with helminths either as single, double or triple infections. Four zoonotic soil transmitted helminth (STH) genera, Trichuris, Strongyloides, Ancylostoma, and Enterobius were detected in the examined animals. Eggs of Trichuris spp. were the most prevalent with four morphotypes suggesting several morphotypes of whipworm were circulating among the NHPs in this region. Further studies are required to elucidate the epidemiologic and public health implications of these findings.

Enterovirus-A76 of South-East Asian ancestry in a Captive Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in Jos, Nigeria

ABSTRACTWe recently detected EV-A119 and EV-B111 (previously shown to co-circulate between nonhuman primates (NHPs) and humans) in Nigerian children diagnosed with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). This study was designed to investigate and catalogue EVs present in captive NHPs in Nigeria.Twenty-seven fecal samples collected from captive NHPs in a Wild Life Park and Zoological garden at Jos, Nigeria in April 2016 were analyzed in this study. Samples were resuspended in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS)/chloroform mixture, and the clarified supernatant was subjected to RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, a Panenterovirus 5I-UTR assay, and three different enterovirus VP1 snPCR assays. All amplicons from the snPCR assays were sequenced, and enteroviruses identified using the enterovirus genotyping tool and phylogenetic analysis.Eight (29.63%) (two each from Chimpanzees, Patas Monkey, Mona Monkey and Baboon) of the 27 samples were positive for the 5I-UTR assay. One (3.70%) of the 27 samples was positive for the enterovirus VP1 snPCR assays in addition to its positivity by 5I-UTR assay. The same sample happens to be one of the two samples from Chimpanzees that tested positive for the 5I-UTR assay, and it was subsequently identified as EV-A76 of South-East Asia ancestry.This study documents the first recorded attempt to detect and identify enteroviruses in NHPs in Nigeria. It also reports the first detection and identification of EV-A76 in Nigeria and particularly in a NHP. It is of utmost importance that the enterovirus VP1 assays be improved to enable detection of EVs that have been detected in NHPs but yet to be described in humans.