Vol. 8 No. 2, 2011 [PDF] - Texas Biomedical Research Institute

Improving Quality of Life by Studying Fetal Development
Peter Nathanielsz, M.D., Ph.D., has been investigating
the connection between in utero development and health
throughout the lifespan since the 1970s. Working on the
premise that developmental programming creates the
landscape in which you will live the rest of your life, he
has examined the effect of maternal undernutrition and
overnutrition on offspring, and how normal and elevated levels
of the stress hormone, cortisol, affect fetal development. He
began to pursue these current lines of research in 2002, with
funding from a National Institutes of Health program project
grant (“Nutrient Restriction,” P01 HD021350).
While the role of developmental programming has been
discussed with increasing frequency in the popular press,
Nathanielsz worries that not enough context is presented to
empower women and families to make informed choices. “The
way I work scientifically is that I first try to ask a question
and then seek hard scientific data to answer it. What are the
potential later life health problems for children of overweight
and obese mothers What are the consequences to children
when their mothers are exposed to excessive amounts of stress
The Round-Up
Director’s Letter
On February 1, 2011, the name
of SNPRC’s host institution
was changed from Southwest
Foundation for Biomedical
Research to Texas Biomedical
Research Institute. This name
change coincides with the
initiation of efforts to implement a
recently completed campus master
plan in which the construction of
new buildings for the SNPRC is
prominently featured. The new buildings will provide stateof-the-art
laboratories for SNPRC scientists and will enable an
increase in staff and an expansion of research activities within
in pregnancy” Nathanielsz and others in
this field have been accused of making
women feel guilty. But, he notes “Women
aren’t the only ones involved in pregnancy;
in reality the whole of society has a
responsibility to understand the biology of
pregnancy and how to improve outcomes
and avoid problems. We are talking about
biology, not blame or fault.” The nine months of gestation are
so critical because “What happens in the womb determines the
rate at which you age, your response to stress, your response
to food intake, your predisposition to obesity, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease.”
This approach has led Nathanielsz to examine the longterm
impact of synthetic glucocorticoids given to women
in premature labor. The hormone crosses the placental
barrier and accelerates the development of the fetal lungs,
ripening them in preparation for taking the first breath after
birth. This treatment has been used to save thousands of
lives since 1973, when G.C. Liggins in New Zealand first
(Continued on page 8)
In this Issue
(Continued on page 4)
the Center. As the campus master plan was being finalized,
several major renovation projects were initiated to improve
our primate group housing and to expand cage space for
experimental work.
Baboons.--Group housing is being improved by
the renovation of the walls of the B and E cage complexes
(29,340 sq.
ft.), under funding
($467,000) from an
NCRR G20 grant.
These cages house
approximately 725
baboons from our
pedigreed breeding
colony.
2 Teacher Enrichment Initiative
3 Staff Focus
5 Summer Interns
6 News Round Up
8 Notices

2
Volume 8, No. 2, 2011
Teacher Enrichment Initiatives Update
Some area high school science teachers who visited SNPRC
this summer to learn about the role of animals in biomedical
research have found a fun way to enrich the lives of our
chimpanzees. Using funds from the TEI program at UTHSCSA,
teachers at New Braunfels High School and Pearsall High
Scholl created piñatas for the animals this fall. The piñatas
will be filled with nutritious food enrichment at SNPRC and
provided to the animals as a fun treat. The goal with this project
is to “give teachers and students an appreciation for the work
we do to ensure the psychological well-being of our nonhuman
primates who participate in biomedical research conducted at
the SNPRC,” says Corrine Lutz, the head of the Behavioral
Services group.
An East Central ISD student creates a piñata.
HOW TO MAKE A PIÑATA
Chimpanzees enjoy tearing apart the piñata almost as much as
they enjoy eating the seeds and other treats inside.
The Round-Up
is published twice a year by the Southwest
National Primate Research Center.
John L. VandeBerg, Director
P.O. Box 760549, San Antonio, Texas 78245-0549
Phone: 210-258-9780 Fax: 210-258-9883 http://www.snprc.org
This newsletter provides updates on scientific research and activities
supported by the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes
of Health. We welcome inquiries about our biomedical research program and
collaborative opportunities for outside investigators.
April Hopstetter, Editor Copyright 2011
Ph: 210-258-9519
Southwest National Primate Research Center
Fax: 210-258-9863
E-mail: ahopstet@TxBiomed.org
1. Cut butcher paper into 1 ½ inch strips
2. Fill tub with water
3. Add flour and mix until thick
4. Blow up and tie balloons
5. Use plastic containers as stands for balloons
6. Soak paper strips in tub and coat them
thoroughly with flour water mixture
7. Layer strips of paper around balloon
8. Add 2 layers of paper strips
9. Store on containers over night, or until dry and
hard
HOW TO PAINT A PIÑATA
1. Paint solid base coat with any color non-toxic
paint
2. Allow to dry
3. Use multi-colored paints to create various
designs
4. Allow to dry, placing piñata on a plastic or
cardboard container
5. Balloons will shrink over time and pull away
from the paper
6. Finished piñatas may be stored and transported
in large plastic trash bags

The Round-Up 3
Staff Focus: Jera Pecotte, Ph.D.
Jera Pecotte, Ph.D., fulfills many roles in
the SNPRC. She oversees the biomaterials
distribution program and a variety of training and
internship programs. Dr. Pecotte began her career
working in forensic anthropology, providing
support to the Utah State Medical Examiner’s
office. She also worked with ancient Egyptian
remains both in Italy and Egypt. After several
years in Italy directing a U.S. consortium studyabroad
program at the University of Turin, she
returned to the U.S., where friend and colleague
Karen Rice, Ph.D., recruited her to oversee the
burgeoning biomaterials program at SNPRC.
Pecotte was able to use her background in
anatomy immediately. What started as an interim
position has grown over the intervening eight
years. She took over the tissue collection role,
which had begun under the guidance of Henry
McGill, M.D., and expanded over time, and now also oversees
the blood and DNA repository.
Her staff includes Kelly Clark, Research Technician II, who
is in charge of order shipping and assists with some tissue
collection; Leilah Minica, Senior Research Assistant, who is
in charge of DNA extraction and other “wet lab” work; and
Steve Rios, Research Techician III, who is in charge of blood
processing and tissue collection at necropsy. The biomaterials
team ensures that samples are correctly collected, stored or
shipped according to investigator request. Biomaterials works
hand-in-hand with the Pathology group, which often processes
tissues in house for the investigator. Pecotte has also recruited
the assistance of a neuroanatomist consultant from UTSA, Dr.
Clyde Phelix, to dissect out precise brain tissues at necropsy for
complex specialized requests.
Pecotte hopes to continue to increase and diversify the offerings
of the biomaterials service, suggesting that creating RNA on
request, creating RNA assays, or other innovative services,
may be possible. Pecotte interacts with others who maintain
primate repositories and also with the International Society
for Biological and Environmental Repositories, where she can
research practical issues such as best methods for maintaining
inventory, the best receptacles for samples, and optimizing
storage and handling conditions.
Pecotte finds recipients to be very appreciative. “We’ve had offsite
investigators come to visit us to thank us for making their
studies possible. It’s very rewarding.” She is happy to report that,
in most cases, most requests can be fulfilled. They try to ensure
Biomaterials Services Staff (left to right): Jera Pecotte, Steve
Rios, Leilah Minica, and Kelly Clark.
that samples are collected whenever an opportunity arises.
“The effort of maintaining the resource really pays off when
you see someone who is able to do the research they would
not be able to do otherwise. It’s especially true with tissues
from chimpanzees, whose numbers are dwindling in research
environments as well as in the wild. And the fact that we have
pedigrees makes the samples even more valuable,” Pecotte
says.
As the coordinator of the 2010 summer internship program,
Pecotte had undergraduate and graduate students interact
with high school teachers who were on site to learn about
biomedical research using nonhuman primates. As a result of
these interactions, Pecotte says, “The student interns shared
with the teachers what it was in their education that propelled
them into science. And the high school teachers were really
inspiring. Our role in participating with the science teachers
is to help share and teach the value of animals in biomedical
research. Several of our SNPRC core staff gave talks, our
enrichment staff demonstrated behavior and enrichment tasks,
and we also had a member of our Quality Assurance staff
discuss animal welfare regulations governing research.”
“The high school science teachers also had students create
piñatas for the animals that would be filled with food and
other enrichment items at the SNPRC. That allows the
students be part of the process and perhaps be inspired to
pursue careers in research,” Pecotte concludes.

4
Volume 8, No. 2, 2011
Fetal Development (continued from page 1)
reported that prematurely born lambs whose mothers were given
glucocorticoids had better ability to breathe and survive than
untreated animals.
Nathanielsz has reservations about the far-reaching effects
of glucocorticoid administration. “No one has done a trial to
determine the optimal dose. I am concerned with the effects
on the kidney, the brain…seeing high levels of glucocorticoid
before they should. Perhaps a lower dose can allow the lungs to
be prepared for breathing while not prematurely signaling the
other organs to differentiate. My thesis, and I’m certainly not
alone, is that you could get adequate lung maturation if you give
a lower dose. And you would also have less of the potentially
harmful effects on the brain, the kidney, the gut, and the heart.”
The benefit conferred by the dose of steroid lasts for a week;
if labor is delayed beyond a week, no benefit is seen. As a
result, physicians sometimes feel compelled to give additional
doses as pregnancy progresses if it appears that the mother
might still deliver prematurely. Though the NIH does not
endorse administering more than one dose, some women
at risk of preterm delivery do get multiple weekly doses of
glucocorticoids. Even more distressing, in some countries,
giving the steroids to mothers has insinuated itself into the
standard of care even in the absence of any threat of early
delivery. The implications of excessive and unnecessary
exposure of the developing fetus to steroids are serious. When
fetal organs differentiate early following early exposure to
steroids they then have fewer cells and can be more prone to
problems in later life. For example, a smaller pancreas can lead
to diabetes if the diet in later life is not good.
Until a few years ago, there was no evidence of adverse
effects of prenatal glucocorticoid administration on long-term
development in humans. Now those babies are adults, and initial
studies have found a higher incidence of glucose instability and
high blood pressure in the first cohorts that received this therapy.
While these findings took 37 years to amass, a primate model
allows researchers to answer scientific questions more quickly:
a baboon reaches puberty in 4 years; a human reaches puberty in
14 years.
Nathanielsz and his team are examining the “cost” of exposure
to high levels of glucocorticoids in fetal life using the baboon as
a model. “In our study, we’re administering the glucocorticoid,
letting the mothers deliver, then we’re looking at the behavior
of the offspring. The three-year-old baboons we are studying
were exposed to high levels of glucocorticoid when in the
womb. We are asking several questions using these offspring.
Has the exposure had any effect on behavior, the pancreas, the
kidney or the gut” Collaborator Mark Nijland, Ph.D., has
Fetal baboon hippocampus stained for microtubular associated protein
2c (MAP2c; brown stain). The hippocampus regulates memory, adrenal
function and many behaviors. Brain tissue from a control late gestation
baboon fetus (left) displays more MAP2c than the hippocampus of a
baboon fetus whose mother received doses of steroids equivalent to
those given in human pregnancy (right).
adapted a behavioral testing system used with young children
to use in the baboon to answer some of these questions, while
SNPRC Core Scientist Laura Cox, Ph.D., is looking at gene
expression to see how it varies between treated and untreated
baboons. Preliminary data indicate that there are differences in
offspring behavior, which are related to sex of the offspring,
at an age equivalent to human adolescence. When studied
in a behavioral test that measures motivation, betamethasone
exposure decreased motivation in both sexes. In a test that
evaluates attention allocation, female offspring exposed to
steroids committed more errors than males. Nathanielsz hopes
these data will help to reopen the dialog with the medical
profession to determine dose of steroid to use to obtain
maximal benefit. “We’ve shown in the pregnant sheep that
half of the dose is adequate for maturing the lungs. Our goal
is not to stop the administration of glucocorticoids to women
threatening to deliver early. This treatment has saved the lives
of countless babies and decreased neonatal problems. But
it is clear that work needs to be done to optimize the dose,”
Nathanielsz says.
“Unless we get firm evidence about the long-term adverse
consequences for normal fetal development of fetal exposure
to glucocorticoids, nothing will change. That’s why we need
sound, careful controlled animal research.” Nathanielsz
concludes.
Peter W. Nathanielsz, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for
Pregnancy and Newborn Research and Professor in the Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science
Center, San Antonio.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Nathanielsz PW, Berghorn KA, Derks JB, Giussani DA, Docherty C,
Unno N, Davenport A, Kutzlers M, Koenen S, Visser GH, Nijland
MJ. Life before birth: effects of cortisol on future cardiovascular
and metabolic function. Acta Paediatr. 2003;92(7):766-72.
Nijland MJ. Fetal exposure to corticosteroids: how low can we go J
Physiol. 2003;549(Pt 1):1.
Rodriguez JS, Zürcher NR, Keenan KE, Bartlett TQ, Nathanielsz PW,
Nijland MJ. Prenatal betamethasone exposure has sex specific
effects in reversal learning and attention in juvenile baboons. Am J
Obstet, in press.

The Round-Up 5
Summer 2010 Intern Update
As national resources, the National Primate Research
Centers are in a unique position to provide training
opportunities to students by providing extensive and varied
opportunities in biomedical research and laboratory animal
care. The need for nonhuman primates in biomedical
research is increasing at a rapid pace as translational research
funding is committed to critical areas such as biodefense,
stem cell development, and gene therapy. This summer’s
students conducted research in virology, immunology,
diseases of aging, and pathology under the guidance of their
SNPRC mentors. The following summarizes each student’s
research.
David Cray, an undergraduate at the University of Notre
Dame, worked under the supervision of veterinarians
Heather Cole, D.V.M., Patrice Frost, D.V.M., and Cassie
Bauer, D.V.M. He studied the prevalence and speciation of
Babesia infection in the baboon colony using archived samples.
Drs. Adam Birkenheuer and Anna Stedman of North Carolina
State University assisted in the genetic identification of Babesia
samples and PCR testing. Future studies may include further
assessment of prevalence and distribution and determination of
the mode of transmission.
Benjamin Fox, an undergraduate at Texas A&M University
working toward a degree in biomedical science, worked under
the supervision of pathologists Mike Owston, D.V.M., and
Edward Dick, D.V.M. in the pathology laboratory. He also
worked on a research project, examining 26 years of clinical
records to characterize congenital lesions in baboons. Findings
indicate that the baboon has an incidence of congenital lesions
similar to humans. They will be developed into a manuscript to
be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Antonio Gonzalez, a second-year undergraduate at the
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, worked under the
supervision of Melissa de la Garza, D.V.M. He studied
cardiovascular disease in chimpanzees, examining the
relationship between measures of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
and the characteristics of electrocardiograms to see whether BNP
levels correlate to heart health. He found sex-related, but not
weight-related differences in BNP levels, but the small sample
size of 5 animals precluded making definitive conclusions.
BNP levels also seemed to be related to cardiac arrhythmias
and circulatory problems, but seems best suited to serve as a
supplemental metric to use in a diagnostic workup.
Shyamesh Kumar, D.V.M., a graduate student in the College
of Veterinary Medicine of Mississippi State University, worked
under the supervision of Ed Dick, D.V.M. He assisted with
Summer, 2010 Interns and Mentors (left to right): Fabian
Vazquez-Santiago, Shyamesh Kumar, Luis Giavedoni,
Benjamin Fox, Edward Dick, Michael Owston, Antonio
Gonzalez, Cassondra Bauer, David Cray, Melissa de la
Garza, Heather Cole, Ashley Lipps, and Elizabeth Dick
(volunteer).
necropsies and also performed a retrospective investigation
of archived materials to examine cases of encephalitis of
unknown cause in the baboons. He was able to determine
the cause definitively in a majority of cases. Findings will
be developed into a manuscript to be submitted to a peerreviewed
journal.
Ashley Lipps, a third-year graduate student studying
biological anthropology at the University of California,
Berkeley, worked under the supervision of Lorena Havill,
Ph.D. She gathered research data related to her dissertation,
which examines how reproduction reorganizes bone on a
microcellular level. She gathered archived bone samples
from 142 baboon and reviewed the reproductive history of
the females in the pedigreed baboon colony. Analyses are
being completed at Berkeley, but Lipps will return to collect
additional samples later.
Fabian Vazquez-Santiago a first-year graduate student
at Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico, worked under
the supervision of Luis Giavedoni, Ph.D. He broadened
his laboratory experience by constructing viral vectors that
includes “instructions” necessary to generate fusion proteins
that may be used to bind to certain sites on immune system
cells that are targets of SIV, the monkey equivalent of HIV.
The vectors constructed and determined to be functional
as part of this effort will be used to evaluate the macaque’s
immune response to SIV infection.

6
Presentations and Invited Talks at SNPRC
June 2010 - November 2010
“Hepatitis C and the Chimp Model,” June 29, 2010, Dr.
Robert Lanford, SNPRC Core Scientist, held at the University
of Texas Health Science Center
“Trypanosomes and Chagas disease in Ecuador: From basic
research to control interventions,” Thursday, July 8, 2010,
Mauricio Lascano, Ph.D., International Emerging Infectious
Diseases Fellow, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
“Identification of genetic networks underlying cardiovascular
disease phenotypes,” August 13, 2010, Dr. Laura Cox, at the
First Genome Research Day, held at the University of Texas
Health Science Center
“Understanding the genetic and epigenetic complexities of
brain structure and function,” August 19, 2010, Dr. Melanie
Carless, Assistant Scientist, Department of Genetics, SFBR
“Multi-Epitope DNA Vaccines Against Ebola Virus,”
September 7, 2010, Dr. Daniel A. J. Mitchell, Ph.D., U.S.
Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
(USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Maryland
“Viral Forecasting,” October 15, 2010, Dr. Nathan Wolfe,
Lorry I. Lokey Visiting Professor in Human Biology
at Stanford University and Director of the Global Viral
Forecasting Initiative
“Challenges and opportunities in AIDS vaccine development,”
October 15, 2010, Dr. Wayne C. Koff, Chief Scientific
Officer, Senior Vice President , Research and Development ,
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
“Evolution of splicing in primates,” October 19, 2010, Dr. Yi
Xing, Assistant Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine
and Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa.
“Using Genetics and Stem Cell Therapy to Guide Personalized
Medicine,” October 28, 2010, Dr. Kang Zhang, Professor of
Ophthalmology & Human Genetics, University of California,
San Diego
“Genetics of age-related macular degeneration,” November
18, 2010, Dr. Peter Francis, Associate Professor, Co-Director,
Oregon Retinal Degeneration Center, Oregon Health &
Science University
Volume 8, No. 2, 2011
Nathan Wolfe visits
SNPRC
On October 14 and 15, 2010,
Dr. Nathan Wolfe, Director of
the Global Viral Forecasting
Initiative (GVFI), visited
the SNPRC. He gave a talk
on “Viral Forecasting” to
an enthusiastic crowd. He
discussed how new methods
of surveillance were being
developed and would be used in
the future to identify emerging
diseases before they became
epidemics.
Dr. Wolfe also met with
SNPRC and SFBR scientists
to discuss future collaborations
utilizing some of the new
epidemiological tools he was developing. The goal of the
trip was to better acquaint Dr.Wolfe with SFBR’s interests
and capabilities as well as introduce SFBR scientists to a new
exotic panel of biologically characterized reagents that Dr.
Wolfe has collected.
According to its web site (www.gvfi.org), “GVFI is a
pandemic early warning system which monitors the spillover
of novel infectious agents from animals into humans. GVFI
coordinates activities of over 100 scientists and staff from
countries around the world. He currently has active research
and public health projects in Cameroon, China, Central African
Republic, DR Congo, PR Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea,
Lao, Madagascar, Malaysia and Sao Tome.”
Tom Folks, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research Resources,
SNPRC, along with SFBR, hosted Dr. Wolfe, and notes “Dr.
Wolfe and I have interacted for over 12 years identifying and
characterizing emerging retroviruses. One of our most recent
patents and publications describes the full genomic sequence
of our latest discovery, HTLV-4, isolated from a human in
Central Africa.” Ancient, independent evolution and distinct
molecular features of the novel human T-lymphotropic virus
Type 4, Switzer et al., Retrovirology 2009, 6:9 (2 Feb. 2009).
It is hoped that the outcome of Dr. Wolfe’s visit will inspire
SFBR scientists to actively engage with GVFI to expand our
knowledge of emerging infectious diseases.

The Round-Up 7
Nonhuman primates
advance AIDS research
Tom Folks, Associate
Director for Research
Resources, contributed a
“Perspective” article to
the Journal of Medical
Primatology (40(1):59-
60, 2011). Entitled “AIDS
Animal Model Comes
of Age,” it addresses the
critical need for a reliable
animal model to study
AIDS and to investigate
promising preventative
therapies.
The premise of this article has been borne out by two
prominent human clinical trials that have been published in the
scientific literature in the past few months. Results of a human
clinical trial for HIV prevention using Truvada (Tenofovir +
FTC) gel as a microbicide appeared in Science in November
2010, and they validate for the first time a macaque model
designed to investigate prevention of virus transmission. The
study was patterned after one conducted using the rhesus
macaque model that aimed to prevent mucosal transmission,
and on which Dr. Folks served as an investigator.
The second human study was published on line in The
New England Journal of Medicine. It was conducted by the
Preexposure Prophylaxis Initiative (iPrEx) and used Truvada
as an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. The drug was delivered
orally and was able to prevent up to 75% of new HIV
infections if taken properly. This study arose from a successful
primate model study using oral Truvada prophylaxis in which
Dr. Folks also served as an investigator.
“As a prevention tool, the macaque has provided the critical
guidance in directing two breakthrough clinical trials in
blocking two modes of HIV transmission. These findings
advance the rhesus macaque model as a starting point to test
the next generation of HIV prevention therapies,” says Dr.
Folks, who continues, “Macaques as an AIDS animal model
will continue to contribute important translational information
as new drugs, possibly superior to Truvada, enter the HIV preexposure
prevention pipeline.”
Promotions for 2011
Congratulations to the following employees on their
outstanding efforts!
Manuel Aguilar -- Veterinary Research Technician III
Joshua Bingham -- Veterinary Research Technician II
Michael Shaun Cawlfield -- Veterinary Research Technician II
Kelly A. Clark -- Research Technician II
Jacob E. Martinez -- Necropsy Technician I
Jesse C. Martinez -- Necropsy Technician I
Cynthia Mermeia -- Research Associate
Abel Moncivais -- Veterinary Research Technician III
Christian Heath Nevill -- Senior Research Associate
Steve Rios -- Research Technician III
Laura Rumpf -- Veterinary Research Technician III
Ashley Smith -- Veterinary Research Technician I
Lateya Smith -- Veterinary Research Technician III
Maribel Vazquez -- Research Associate
Michael Washington-- Veterinary Research Technician III
National AALAS Meeting, Atlanta, GA
On October 10-14, 2010 members of the National American
Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) met
in Atlanta, GA, and as a perk of her winning the Technician
Assistance Award at the Texas Branch AALAS, Annessa
Raiford attended the National AALAS Meeting. Other
SNPRC attendees included: Dr. Lutz, Jennifer Smith.
We have formed a Training Program Development Task
Force to facilitate the development of the training program.
Members include Brooke Stotler, Sharon Price, Dr. Bauer,
Tim Fleming, Don Taylor, and Laurie Condel. Anyone with
questions or suggestions can contact any of the members.
Interested in AALAS Certification
AALAS offers three levels of certification, based on
education and experience. To learn more, go to
http://www.aalas.org/certification/tech_cert.asp. SNPRC
pays for study materials and the exam fee for one exam
per level. Supervisors have also organized study groups for
ALAT, LAT, and LATg testing. Interested staff members
should contact Brooke Stotler or their supervisors for more
information or visit http://info.txbiomed.org/index.php/
vet-resources/learning

Director’s Letter
(Continued from page 1)
Rhesus monkeys.--Building 114 (5,253 sq. ft.) is being
extensively upgraded to enable expansion of our SPF rhesus
monkey breeding colony, under ARRA supplemental funding
($524,000) to the U42 grant that partially supports the colony.
In addition, extensive floor improvements of the existing
breeding facility (14,332 sq. ft.) are in progress, supported by
funding ($404,289) from a G20 grant. Building 4 is being fully
renovated to provide ABSL-2 housing for macaques, as well as
baboons, in experimental protocols, under support ($443,000)
from a G20 grant. Cages for Building 4 are being purchased
with funds ($474,000) from another G20 grant.
Chimpanzees.--All of the existing chimpanzee
facilities are being renovated under support from a supplement
($499,995) to the base grant, and a new chimpanzee facility
(12,346 sq. ft.) is being developed by renovating Building 112,
which had previously housed cynomolgus monkeys, under
support ($1,460,000) from a C06 grant.
These major improvements and expansions of primate
group and experimental housing will enable us to continue
providing high quality care to the primates and to significantly
expand the research and breeding programs conducted by our
Core Scientists as well as by Affiliate Scientists from around the
country.
New Training Coordinator at SNPRC
SNPRC welcomed new training coordinator Brooke Stotler,
LAT, in August of this year. She’s been making the rounds,
talking to coworkers in all areas of the SNPRC, and learning
about processes in place and needs for training.
Stotler comes to the SNPRC after working many years at a
contract research organization. She will use her background
in animal care in a GLP environment to formalize the exisitng
training program, enhance its offerings, and continue the
successful onsite AALAS certification test preparation. Stotler
is currently updating AALAS materials and organizing the
next sessions of . Classes for all 3 levels scheduled to begin in
January 2011.
She also plans to coordinate “as needed” training on special
topics, and encourages supervisors to discuss needs with her.
Suggestions for special topics include working with certain
programs, data entry and review, computer use (basic, use of
Excel, and other programs) and improving writing skills.
When asked to describe her training philosophy, Stotler says,
“I believe in learning all of the time. I want to be able to share
new skills and transmit my enthusiasm to everyone I work
with.”
Pilot Study Program
New, innovative pilot studies have the potential for
developing into larger projects that could then compete
for funds on their own. In the past the SNPRC has been
very successful in supporting and sponsoring from 2
to 4 Pilot Studies per year. A high percentage of those
studies have then been leveraged into larger NIH grants.
Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, the SNPRC
will not be accepting applications for Pilot Study projects
to be initiated in 2011. We hope that the program will be
reinstated in 2012.
Summer Intern Program
In previous years, SNPRC has provided educational and
training opportunities for a limited number of students
during an 8-10 week summer session. Both undergraduate
and graduate (Ph.D. and veterinary) students at accredited
academic institutions have participated. The program
has produced some outstanding research opportunities
for budding scientists. Unfortunately, due to financial
constraints, SNPRC will not be able to offer the Summer
Intern program this year. We hope that we will be able to
reinstate the program in 2012.

SNPRC Publications
June 2010 – November 2010
Core Staff Publications
Biesinger T, White R, Yu Kimata MT, Wilson BK, Allan JS, Kimata JT.
Relative replication capacity of phenotypic SIV variants during primary
infections differs with route of inoculation. Retrovirology. 2010 Oct 13;
7: 88. PMCID: PMC2964591.
Bose T, Voruganti VS, Tejero ME, Proffit JM, Cox LA, VandeBerg
JL, Mahaney MC, Rogers J, Freeland-Graves JH, Cole SA,
Comuzzie AG. Identification of a QTL for adipocyte volume and of
shared genetic effects with aspartate aminotransferase. Biochem Genet.
2010 Jun; 48(5-6): 538-547. PMCID: PMC2869397.
Cerbulo-Vazquez A, Zavala M, Perez-Palacios GA, Jenkins SL,
Giavedoni LD, Hodara VL, Romero R, Wimmer RD, Irles C,
Nathanielsz PW. Baboon fetal arterial endothelial cells are more
responsive to challenge by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) than
baboon fetal umbilical vein endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis. 2010 Oct;
212(2): 701-703. PMCID: PMC2952702.
Higgins PB, Bastarrachea RA, Lopez-Alvarenga JC, Garcia-Forey M,
Proffitt JM, Voruganti VS, Tejero ME, Mattern V, Haack K, Shade
RE, Cole SA, Comuzzie AG. Eight week exposure to a high sugar high
fat diet results in adiposity gain and alterations in metabolic biomarkers
in baboons (Papio hamadryas sp.). Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2010 Oct 29;
9: 71. PMCID: PMC2988722.
Hlusko LJ, Sage RD, Mahaney MC. Modularity in the mammalian
dentition: Mice and monkeys share a common dental genetic
architecture. J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol. 2010 Oct 4.
Holmes RS, Cox LA, VandeBerg JL. Comparative studies of mammalian
acid lipases: Evidence for a new gene family in mouse and rat (lipo).
Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2010 Sep; 5(3):
217-226. PMCID: PMC2917524.
Holmes RS, Cox LA, VandeBerg JL. Mammalian carboxylesterase 3:
Comparative genomics and proteomics. Genetica. 2010 Jul; 138(7):
695-708. PMCID: PMC2896070.
Kamat A, Nijland MJ, McDonald TJ, Cox LA, Nathanielsz PW, Li C.
Moderate global reduction in maternal nutrition has differential stage of
gestation specific effects on β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the fetal
baboon liver. Reprod Sci. 2010 Nov 15.
Karere GM, Glenn JP, VandeBerg JL, Cox LA. Identification of
baboon microRNAs expressed in liver and lymphocytes. J Biomed Sci.
2010 Jul 1; 17: 54. PMCID: PMC2905361.
Keckler MS, Hodara VL, Parodi LM, Giavedoni LD. Maintenance or
emergence of chronic phase secondary cytotoxic T lymphocyte
responses after loss of acute phase immunodominant responses does not
protect SIV-infected rhesus macaques from disease progression. J
Biomed Biotechnol. 2010; 2010: 279391. PMCID: PMC2877203.
Kochunov P, Glahn DC, Fox PT, Lancaster JL, Saleem K, Shelledy W,
Zilles K, Thompson PM, Coulon O, Mangin JF, Blangero J, Rogers J.
Genetics of primary cerebral gyrification: Heritability of length, depth
and area of primary sulci in an extended pedigree of Papio baboons.
Neuroimage. 2010 Nov 15; 53(3): 1126-1134. PMCID: PMC2888833.
Koh C, Bates E, Broughton E, Do NT, Fletcher Z, Mahaney MC, Hlusko
LJ. Genetic integration of molar cusp size variation in baboons. Am J
Phys Anthropol. 2010 Jun; 142(2): 246-260. PMCID: PMC2914092.
Miley DD, Baumgartner MH, Cheverud JM, Roseman CC, Rogers J,
McLeod DE, Reyes E, Hildebolt CF. Heritability of alveolar bone loss
from periodontal disease in a baboon population. A pilot study. J
Periodontol. 2010 Nov 2.
Mohr EL, Murthy KK, McLinden JH, Xiang J, Stapleton JT. The natural
history of nonhuman GB virus C in captive chimpanzees. J Gen Virol.
2011 Jan;92(Pt 1):91-100.
Rainwater DL, Shi Q, Mahaney MC, Hodara V, VandeBerg JL, Wang
XL. Genetic regulation of endothelial inflammatory responses in
baboons. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Aug; 30(8): 1628-1633.
PMCID: PMC2908371.
Rainwater DL, VandeBerg JL, Mahaney MC. Effects of diet on genetic
regulation of lipoprotein metabolism in baboons. Atherosclerosis. 2010
Dec;213(2):499-504.
Rivera-Amill V, Kumar R, Noel RJ, Jr, Garcia Y, Rodriguez IV, Martinez
M, Sariol CA, Kraiselburd E, Iszard M, Mukherji M, Kumar S,
Giavedoni LD, Kumar A. Short communication: Lack of immune
response in rapid progressor morphine-dependent and SIV/SHIVinfected
rhesus macaques is correlated with downregulation of TH1
cytokines. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2010 Aug; 26(8): 919-922.
PMCID: PMC2957625.
Rogers J, Kochunov P, Zilles K, Shelledy W, Lancaster J, Thompson P,
Duggirala R, Blangero J, Fox PT, Glahn DC. On the genetic
architecture of cortical folding and brain volume in primates.
Neuroimage. 2010 Nov 15; 53(3): 1103-1108.
Roseman CC, Willmore KE, Rogers J, Hildebolt C, Sadler BE,
Richtsmeier JT, Cheverud JM. Genetic and environmental contributions
to variation in baboon cranial morphology. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2010
Sep; 143(1): 1-12.
Rubio CA, Owston M, Orrego A, Dick EJ, Jr. Further studies on
Barrett’s mucosa in baboons: Metaplastic glandular cells produce
sialomucin. Anticancer Res. 2010 Oct; 30(10): 4123-4126.
Rubio CA, Owston M, Orrego A, Dick EJ, Jr. A simple method to record
parietal cells in the fundic mucosa in baboons. In Vivo. 2010 Sep-Oct;
24(5): 705-707.
Simerly CR, Castro CA, Jacoby E, Grund K, Turpin J, McFarland D,
Champagne J, Jimenez JB, Jr, Frost P, Bauer C, Hewitson L, Schatten
G. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) with baboons generate
live offspring: A nonhuman primate model for ART and reproductive
sciences. Reprod Sci. 2010 Oct; 17(10): 917-930.
Whittaker C, Grist G, Bert A, Brasky K, Neighbors S, McFall C, Hilbert
SL, Drake WB, Cromwell M, Mueller B, Lofland GK, Hopkins RA.
Pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass adaptations for long-term survival of
baboons undergoing pulmonary artery replacement. J Extra Corpor
Technol. 2010 Sep; 42(3): 223-231.
Widman DG, Ishikawa T, Giavedoni LD, Hodara VL, de la Garza M,
Montalbo JA, Travassos Da Rosa AP, Tesh RB, Patterson JL, Carrion
R, Jr, Bourne N, Mason PW. Evaluation of RepliVAX WN, a singlecycle
flavivirus vaccine, in a non-human primate model of West Nile
virus infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Jun; 82(6): 1160-1167.
PMCID: PMC2877429.
Wonganan P, Clemens CC, Brasky K, Pastore L, Croyle MA. Species
differences in the pharmacology and toxicology of PEGylated helperdependent
adenovirus. Mol Pharm. 2010 Sep 23.
Affiliate Staff Publications
Arroyo JA, Li C, Schlabritz-Loutsevitch N, McDonald T, Nathanielsz
P, Galan HL. Increased placental XIAP and caspase 3 is associated with
increased placental apoptosis in a baboon model of maternal nutrient
reduction. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Oct; 203(4): 364.e13-364.e18.
PMCID: PMC2947591.
Ben-Yehudah A, Easley CA IV, Hermann BP, Castro C, Simerly C,
Orwig KE, Mitalipov S, Schatten G. Systems biology discoveries using
non-human primate pluripotent stem and germ cells: Novel gene and
genomic imprinting interactions as well as unique expression patterns.
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2010 Aug 5; 1(3): 24. PMCID: PMC2941116.
Blanco CL, Liang H, Joya-Galeana J, DeFronzo RA, McCurnin D, Musi
N. The ontogeny of insulin signaling in the preterm baboon model.
Endocrinology. 2010 May; 151(5): 1990-1997. PMCID: PMC2869258.
Burket J, Gourion-Arsiquaud S, Havill LM, Baker SP, Boskey AL, van
der Meulen MC. Microstructure and nanomechanical properties in
osteons relate to tissue and animal age. J Biomech. 2010 Nov 11.
Chang TC, Liu YG, Eddy CA, Jacoby ES, Binkley PA, Brzyski RG,
Schenken RS. Derivation and characterization of novel nonhuman
primate embryonic stem cell lines from in vitro-fertilized baboon
preimplantation embryos. Stem Cells Dev. 2010 Nov 4.
Kochunov P, Castro C, Davis D, Dudley D, Brewer J, Zhang Y, Kroenke
CD, Purdy D, Fox PT, Simerly C, Schatten G. Mapping primary
gyrogenesis during fetal development in primate brains: High-resolution
in utero structural MRI of fetal brain development in pregnant baboons.
Front Neurosci. 2010 May 10; 4: 20. PMCID: PMC2896074.

Kochunov P, Castro C, Davis DM, Dudley D, Wey HY, Purdy D, Fox
PT, Simerly C, Schatten G. Fetal brain during a binge drinking
episode: A dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI fetal brain perfusion
study. Neuroreport. 2010 Jul 14; 21(10): 716-721. PMCID:
PMC2898126.
Rane S, Nair G, Duong TQ. DTI at long diffusion time improves fiber
tracking. NMR Biomed. 2010 Jun; 23(5): 459-465. PMCID:
PMC2949954.
Ren C, Fan-Havard P, Schlabritz-Loutsevitch N, Ling Y, Chan KK, Liu
Z. A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography/tandem mass
spectrometry method for quantification of nevirapine and its five
metabolites and their pharmacokinetics in baboons. Biomed
Chromatogr. 2010 Jul; 24(7): 717-726.
Zurcher NR, Rodriguez JS, Jenkins SL, Keenan K, Bartlett TQ,
McDonald TJ, Nathanielsz PW, Nijland MJ. Performance of juvenile
baboons on neuropsychological tests assessing associative learning,
motivation and attention. J Neurosci Methods. 2010 May 15; 188(2):
219-225.
Grants Awarded to SNPRC Staff and Affiliates
June 2010 – November 2010
Brasky, Kathleen, SFBR PI: Effects of Aging on Evoked Otoacoustic
Emissions in the Common Marmoset (NIH/University of Texas at San
Antonio; PI: Rama Ratnam), 7-month award of $38,210
Brasky, Kathleen, SFBR PI: Effects of Aging on Evoked Otoacoustic
Emissions in the Common Marmoset (NIH/University of Texas at San
Antonio; PI: Rama Ratnam), 6-month award of $24,227
Cummins, Bill: Nonhuman Primate Caging for the SNPRC (NIH), 1-year
award of $474,534
Rice, Karen, SFBR PI: Macrostructural and Microstructural Analysis of
the Primate Corpus Callosum (NIH/Trinity University; PI: Kimberley
Phillips), 3-year award of $61,157
Rice, Karen , SFBR PI: Development of Hemispheric Specialization in
Capuchin Monkeys (NSF/ Trinity University; PI: Kimberley Phillips),
1-year award of $18,803
Rice, Karen, SFBR PI: Baboon Study (Commercial), 18-month award of
$14,486
Shade, Robert: Feasibility of Lower Body Negative Pressure as a
Hypovolemia Model in Baboons (U.S. Army), 1-year award of
$191,112
VandeBerg, John L.: Chagas Disease: An Emerging Fatal Disease in
Texas (Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation), 1-
year award of $345,751
SNPRC Supplemental Awards
June 2010 – November 2010
Consortium and Translational Activities (NIH), 8-month award of
$1,080,295
Maintenance of NCRR-owned Chimpanzees: FY2010 (NIH), 1-year
award of $547,374
Renovation of SNPRC Chimpanzee Housing (Bldg. 112) (NIH), 1-year
award of $1,000,000
Maintenance of SNPRC Chimpanzee Cages (NIH), 1-year award of
$499,995
Animal Records Management System (NIH), 8-month award of $100,591