- MHC Genetic Typing Core The SPF rhesus macaque breeding colony for AIDS research at the Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) is part of an extensive evidence-based, integrative, program that incorporates best practices in health surveillance, husbandry, preventive medicine, and behavioral and genetic management. The goals of the genetic management program are to 1) maintain genetic diversity and minimize inbreeding to support sustainable populations and 2) characterize class I MHC alleles in support of HIV/AIDS research activities. To this end, the TNPRC Genome Bank collects and stores materials from more than 9000 unique animals, with additional animals collected as they are produced. The colony is characterized for ancestral geographic-origin and parentage confirmed using a pan-NPRC SNP panel. MHC typing for all animals includes testing for 10 class I alleles, which serves the needs of most core and affiliate scientists, and MHC deep sequencing in collaboration with the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center for targeted research programs. Over the previous grant funding period whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been added for 164 key breeders, focusing on those males with the greatest reproductive output in the breeding colony, and whole exome sequencing (WES) from 72 additional animals. Funding for WGS on an additional 200 animals during the coming budget period is also anticipated. These efforts are supported by core TNPRC scientists in collaboration with researchers from other NPRCs and research institutions. These efforts are made in concert with the broader NPRC community through consortia activities, notably, the Nonhuman Primate Genetics and Genomics Working Group. Presently, the efforts of the genetic management program and MHC Genetic Typing Core are to continue to provide high- quality MHC characterization of the SPF breeding colony in support of HIV/AIDS research, to integrate MHC typing with other genetic and genomic data currently being characterized at the TNPRC, and to develop additional support structures for sharing this data with the research community. These efforts ensure the SPF rhesus macaque breeding colony is healthy, sustainable, and of maximal translational research value to the broader HIV/AIDS research community.
