Macaca nemestrina and dengue virus infectivy : a potential model for evaluating dengue vaccine candidates

Abstract

Macaca nemestrina has been shows to respond to infectious disease agents, such as HIV, and is more sensitive compared to other species of macaquest such as the rhesus (M. mulatta) and Cynomolgus monkeys (M. Fascicularis). To evaluate M. nemestrina for the ability to support dengue (DEN) viremia and serve potentially as an improved model for testing DEN vaccines, a series of experiments were conducted using primary viral isolates from individual with DEN virus infection. This study shows that M. nemestrina develope consistent, measureble viremia with all four DEN serotypes and produces and produces immune responses sufficient to protect agains homologous virus. Anti-dengue antibodies generated after infaction are prodeminately IgGI. This species of monkey therefore appears to be a suitable model for testing DEN virus vaccine candidates.