ASU researches immunity in Ethiopian monkeys to understand human viruses

As seen amongst young children throughout day cares and schools, if one child gets a cold or flu, suddenly the entire class has it. This same patten has been spotted in the highlands of Ethiopia within a community of wild monkeys.

ASU researchers set out to study baby gelada monkeys and noticed adenovirus infections were most common in babies younger than 6 months who spend more time with their moms, rather than playing.

Researchers have surmised that gelada babies pick up the virus through socialization as they ride on the backs of their moms, who mingle with other monkeys.

Understanding the immunity of wild primates allows researchers to see the evolutionary and ecological origins of the human immune system. Humans share many biological features with other primates, although they live shorter lives and mature faster.

Due to these shared features, scientists are able to observe how viruses emerge, spread and resolve over a short time frame.

India Schneider-Crease, the Assistant Professor at the School of Human Evolution & Social Change at Arizona State University, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss how these studies can help researchers understand viruses in humans.