Establishment of a SPF Rhesus Macaque Colony

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Abstract - Overall The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) is one of seven National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) supported by the NIH. The SNPRC houses a Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) rhesus macaque colony of Indian origin (Ind RM), supported by the NIH SPF rhesus breeding program (U42OD010442). This colony is derived from the combination of two long-standing SPF colonies, the US Air Force (USAF) and the New England Primate Research Center (NEPRC). This colony of approximately 800 animals supports AIDS-related research both at SNPRC and through sales to AIDS investigators at other institutions. In both cases, these animals primarily support NIH-funded investigator initiated and program-level research in the areas of HIV vaccine development, cure research, pathogenesis, therapeutics development, and co-infections such as TB. In the past two years this resource has also been critical in supporting the development of NHP models of SARS-CoV-2 infection and for the subsequent testing of COVID-19 vaccines e.g., the Pfizer B2 vaccine which has been administered to hundreds of million individuals worldwide, and therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 such as the Regeneron antibody cocktail. The SNPRC resource is being used both by internal scientists who are faculty members of the host institution Texas Biomed, as well as in support of external scientists who either conduct primate research in situ at the SNPRC, acquire animals via sales, or request specific samples. There is currently a major national shortage of research nonhuman primates (NHPs), and particularly of SPF Ind RM. This has severely impacted our program-wide (all NPRCs) ability to support the national research mission of HIV/AIDS as well as in the area of non-AIDS/other infectious diseases, AIDS co-infections, malaria, TB, COVID-19, etc. The SNPRC is particularly affected due to its small colony size and recent recruitment of scientists with large programs that utilize Ind RM. The NIH has recognized this need for expansion of SPF rhesus production and strongly recommends increasing Ind RM breeding capacity. The SNPRC is well positioned to expand its SPF Ind RM production as a center located in a climate hospitable to largely outdoor housing at an institution with capacity for expansion. Texas Biomed has recently raised funds to build a large new NHP facility which could house an additional ~ 800 NHPs. Texas Biomed/SNPRC has also been funded by the NIH/ORIP via a C06 to expand our production capacity by 40% over our existing capacity. Finally, through the support of our host institution, Texas Biomed, we have procured ~ 150 conventional founder/breeder Ind RM to increase our breeding and populate the soon to be renovated/constructed buildings. As such the SNPRC Ind RM population can increase to 1600-2000 in the next decade. While some of the new animals in the SNPRC colony over the next five years will form a separate P51 colony which will not be restricted to HIV/AIDS related research, and at least a 20-40% increase in the U42 colony is expected. Additionally, the development of a P51 colony will support non-ID and non-HIV ID projects such as TB and COVID-19, and support the development of new models. This will ensure that the U42 resource is exclusively available for HIV studies. As such, while the ability of the SNPRC to serve as a national resource of SPF Ind RM has increased significantly in the past performance period, we are poised to serve the needs of both internal and external scientists to a greater level in the future. This renewal application proposes the continuation of successful approaches which have allowed the maintenance of a clean, genetically diverse, SPF Ind RM colony, but with focus on increasing the number of SPF animals in the colony. With the continued support of its U42 application, the SNPRC is poised to substantially contribute to a meaningful reduction in the national shortage of SPF Ind RM.