Boffins map DNA sequencing of rhesus macaque

Scientists at Louisiana State University recently participated in the International Rhesus Macaque Sequence and Analysis Consortium that led to the detailed DNA sequencing of the rhesus macaque, the third primate to undergo full sequencing.

Since rhesus macaque shares about 93 per cent of its genome sequence with humans, they have become an integral part of primate evolutionary studies, and may allow researchers to gain a better understanding of HIV/AIDS in humans.

"Mapping the macaque genome is a significant achievement for many reasons," said Mark Batzer, Andrew C. Pereboom Alumni Departmental Professor of Biological Sciences at LSU and leader of two of the sequence analysis units of the consortium.
"It provides additional insight into the pathways involved in the infection and spread of pathogens in primates, which could potentially lead to the development of new and improved treatment options, vaccines and other preventative measures in humans," he added.

The researchers say that rhesus macaques are the most commonly used non-human primate in biomedical research because of their genetic and physiological similarities to humans. Their response to infectious diseases such as simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is similar enough to the human reaction to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is why access to the complete macaque sequence offers scientists even more in-depth research avenues into current and pressing health issues affecting society today.

Batzer and his colleagues investigated the overall composition and evolution of mobile elements, which are commonly utilised for evolutionary and population genetic studies.

Brygg Ullmer, a collaborator and assistant professor of computer science at LSU's Center for Computation and Technology, used the state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities, including SuperMike, for the computational analysis of the rhesus macaque genome.

"To get a sense for the importance of high-performance computing to this project, a single run of our analysis would have taken 20 to 30 years - nonstop - on a common desktop computer," Ullmer said.

The researchers said that the data generated by them would bolster research in neuroscience, behavioural biology, endocrinology, and many other important fields of study.

They further said that the data would also allow scientists to further study the history of genetic diversity and ancestral population structure of macaques, particularly Chinese and Indian rhesus macaques. While these two groups of rhesus macaques look the same, they are known to be genetically different, a reason why they show different susceptibility to SIV.

One of the many possible benefits that may arise because of the results of this study, say the researchers, is the potential for researchers to gain a better understanding of HIV/AIDS in humans.