Microbial Vertical Transmission During Human Pregnancy

Overview

Journal Cell Host Microbe

Publisher Cell Press

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2017 May 12

PMID 28494237

Citations 181

Authors

Nitin Arora

Yoel Sadovsky

Terence S Dermody

Carolyn B Coyne

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Congenital infections with pathogens such as Zika virus, Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, Treponema pallidium, parvovirus, HIV, varicella zoster virus, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpesviruses are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the devastating impact of microbial infections on the developing fetus, relatively little is known about how pathogens associated with congenital disease breach the placental barrier to transit vertically during human pregnancy. In this Review, we focus on transplacental transmission of pathogens during human gestation. We introduce the structure of the human placenta and describe the innate mechanisms by which the placenta restricts microbial access to the intrauterine compartment. Based on current knowledge, we also discuss the potential pathways employed by microorganisms to overcome the placental barrier and prospects for the future.

Citing Articles

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Upregulation of Autophagy During the Differentiation of Primary Human Term Cytotrophoblast Cells into Syncytial Cells: Ultrastructural Analysis.

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Exploring the composition of placental microbiome and its potential origin in preterm birth.

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Infectivity in full-term placenta of Zika viruses with different lipid profiles.

Mazzetto E, Bortolami A, Bovo D, Stocchero M, Mazzacan E, Napolitan A Virus Res. 2024; 352:199518.

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Jin H, Wang X, Li L, Rui C, Gan H, Wang Q iScience. 2024; 27(12):111423.

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