H. A. Simmons

Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of placental gene therapy via uterine artery catheterization in a pregnant rhesus macaque

This study delivers hIGF1-loaded nanoparticles to the placenta of a pregnant rhesus macaque via uterine artery catheterization, showing successful placental uptake and expression of hIGF1.

Maternal, placental and fetal response to a non-viral, polymeric nanoparticle gene therapy in nonhuman primates

This study evaluates maternal, placental, and fetal responses to non-viral nanoparticle-mediated IGF1 gene therapy in nonhuman primates, finding no adverse effects and placental signaling changes indicating homeostasis maintenance.

Vertical transmission of African-lineage Zika virus through the fetal membranes in a rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) model

This study shows ZIKV can transmit vertically through fetal membranes, not the placenta, in rhesus macaques.

Frequent first-trimester pregnancy loss in rhesus macaques infected with African-lineage Zika virus

This study shows that African-lineage ZIKV infection in early first trimester causes high pregnancy loss in rhesus macaques, regardless of SIV status.

Infection of the maternal-fetal interface and vertical transmission following low-dose inoculation of pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with an African-lineage Zika virus

This study shows African-lineage Zika virus can be vertically transmitted to rhesus macaque fetuses with a low dose, similar to Asian-lineage viruses.

Fetal loss in pregnant rhesus macaques infected with high-dose African-lineage Zika virus

This study shows that high-dose African-lineage Zika virus infection in late first trimester pregnant rhesus macaques causes frequent fetal loss.

Early embryonic loss following intravaginal Zika virus challenge in rhesus macaques

This study infects rhesus macaques intravaginally with Zika virus and finds that two of three pregnancies resulted in early embryonic loss with viral RNA detected at the maternal-fetal interface.

Prior dengue immunity enhances Zika virus infection of the maternal-fetal interface in rhesus macaques

This study shows that prior dengue virus immunity enhances Zika virus infection at the maternal-fetal interface in rhesus macaques but does not affect plasma replication or fetal outcomes.

African-lineage Zika virus replication dynamics and maternal-fetal interface infection in pregnant rhesus macaques

This study infects pregnant rhesus macaques with African- and Asian-lineage Zika virus to compare their pathogenesis, finding similar replication kinetics but higher viral burden in maternal-fetal interface tissues with African-lineage isolates.

Discovery of a novel simian pegivirus in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with lymphocytic enterocolitis

The paper discovers a novel simian pegivirus, SOBV, in common marmosets with lymphocytic enterocolitis, finds it prevalent in 34% of healthy marmosets, and notes its presence in clinically-normal marmosets at another center.

Quantitative definition of neurobehavior, vision, hearing and brain volumes in macaques congenitally exposed to Zika virus

The paper assesses the feasibility of using a macaque model to study neurodevelopmental deficits from congenital Zika virus exposure and estimates required sample sizes for future studies.

Impact of Ferumoxytol Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Rhesus Macaque Maternal-Fetal Interface

Ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI does not affect histopathology or iron levels in the maternal-fetal interface of rhesus macaques during pregnancy or up to one year post-delivery.

Molecularly barcoded Zika virus libraries to probe in vivo evolutionary dynamics

This paper uses molecularly barcoded Zika virus to study in vivo infection dynamics in pregnant and non-pregnant macaques and mosquitoes, finding stable lineage proportions during acute infection but a rapid decline in complexity post-infection in pregnant animals.

Ocular and uteroplacental pathology in macaque congenital Zika virus infection

This study reports ocular and uteroplacental pathology in rhesus macaques infected with ZIKV during pregnancy, showing prolonged viral replication and severe fetal outcomes.

Pegivirus avoids immune recognition but does not attenuate acute-phase disease in a macaque model of HIV infection