Role of non-human primate models in accelerating research and developing countermeasures against Zika virus infection

Amanda Li¹, Lark L Coffey², Emma L Mohr³, Jessica Raper⁴, Ann Chahroudi⁴, Karla K Ausderau⁵, Matthew T Aliota⁶, Thomas C Friedrich⁷, Ann M Mitzey⁸, Michelle R Koenig⁹, Thaddeus G Golos¹⁰, Hannah K Jaeger¹¹, Victoria H J Roberts¹², Jamie O Lo¹³, Jessica L Smith¹¹, Alec J Hirsch¹¹, Daniel N Streblow¹¹, Christina M Newman¹⁴, David H O'Connor¹⁵, Eve M Lackritz¹⁶, Koen K A Van Rompay¹⁷, Kristina M Adams Waldorf¹⁸; Zika Expert Workgroup

Collaborators, Affiliations

Collaborators

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
² Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁶ Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St Paul, MN, USA.
⁷ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁸ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁹ Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹¹ Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
¹² Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
¹³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁶ Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: adamsk@uw.edu.

PMID: 40024258
PMCID: PMC12145256 (available on 2026-06-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.101030

Review

Role of non-human primate models in accelerating research and developing countermeasures against Zika virus infection

Amanda Li et al. Lancet Microbe. 2025 Jun.

. 2025 Jun;6(6):101030.

doi: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.101030. Epub 2025 Feb 27.

Authors

Collaborators

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
² Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁶ Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St Paul, MN, USA.
⁷ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁸ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
⁹ Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹¹ Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
¹² Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
¹³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁶ Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: adamsk@uw.edu.

PMID: 40024258
PMCID: PMC12145256 (available on 2026-06-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2024.101030

Abstract

Zika virus, a mosquito-transmitted orthoflavivirus, has become a pathogen of global health concern ever since the virus caused an epidemic in Brazil in 2015 associated with approximately 700 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of congenital microcephaly. The subsequent spread of the epidemic in 2016 resulted in a wide spectrum of congenital neurological, ophthalmological, and developmental abnormalities across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. In this context, non-human primate models have become essential tools for Zika virus research to understand the pathogenesis of congenital brain injury and perinatal complications and for developing and testing medical countermeasures such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Fetal brain injury has been observed across various non-human primate species and is influenced by factors such as the Zika virus strain, gestational age at inoculation, and inoculation dose and route. Miscarriages are also seen as common outcomes of first trimester Zika virus infections. This Series paper reviews the diverse non-human primate models currently used for Zika virus research to mitigate the public health effects of future Zika virus epidemics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests LLC has received honoraria from the University of Washington, Louisiana State University, MRIGlobal, and the American Society of Virology. JOL serves as the codirector of PMedIC: Pacific northwest bioMedical Innovation Co-laboratory. AC received honoraria from Pediatric Grand Rounds, Weill Cornell Medicine. All other authors declare no competing interests.

References

1. Gulland A Zika virus is a global public health emergency, declares WHO. BMJ 2016; 352: i657. - PubMed
1. Soares de Oliveira-Szejnfeld P, Levine D, Melo AS, et al. Congenital Brain Abnormalities and Zika Virus: What the Radiologist Can Expect to See Prenatally and Postnatally. Radiology 2016; 281(1): 203–18. - PubMed
1. Schuler-Faccini L, Ribeiro EM, Feitosa IM, et al. Possible Association Between Zika Virus Infection and Microcephaly - Brazil, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016; 65(3): 59–62. - PubMed
1. Moura da Silva AA, Ganz JS, Sousa PD, et al. Early Growth and Neurologic Outcomes of Infants with Probable Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22(11): 1953–6. - PMC - PubMed
1. Melo AS, Aguiar RS, Amorim MM, et al. Congenital Zika Virus Infection: Beyond Neonatal Microcephaly. JAMA Neurol 2016; 73(12): 1407–16. - PubMed

Publication types

Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Medical
- MedlinePlus Health Information

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Role of non-human primate models in accelerating research and developing countermeasures against Zika virus infection

Collaborators

Affiliations

Role of non-human primate models in accelerating research and developing countermeasures against Zika virus infection

Authors

Collaborators

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical