Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...

Development of Immunocompetence

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...

Malaria

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Genomic investigation reveals local persistence and regional circulation of dengue virus associated with recent outbreaks in Kenya.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Mobility and non-household environments: Understanding dengue transmission patterns in urban contexts.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2026

Same author

Building an Interoperable Rare Disease Multi-omic Resource: The GREGoR Data Model and Dataset.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Seroincidence Rate of Typhoidal Salmonella in Children, Kenya, 2017-2018.

Emerging infectious diseases·2026

Same author

Longitudinal Kinetics of T Cells and NK Cells After Pediatric Liver Transplant.

Pediatric transplantation·2026

Same author

Risk factors associated with dengue and chikungunya seroprevalence and seroconversion among urban populations in western and coastal Kenya.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2025

Same journal

Correction for Nishimori et al., “Identification of an Atypical Enzootic Bovine Leukosis in Japan by Using a Novel Classification of Bovine Leukemia Based on Immunophenotypic Analysis”

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2018

Same journal

Effect of Breastfeeding and Additional Household Children on Cytomegalovirus Seroprevalence among U.S. Children 1 to 5 Years of Age.

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2017

Same journal

Reevaluation of Positivity Cutoff Values for the Pneumococcal Urinary Antigen Detection Assay.

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2017

Same journal

The Legacy of CVI.

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2017

Same journal

Protein Structure Facilitates High-Resolution Immunological Mapping.

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2017

Same journal

Stable Chromosomal Expression of Shigella flexneri 2a and 3a O-Antigens in the Live Salmonella Oral Vaccine Vector Ty21a.

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI·2017

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

Parasitic Infections in Pregnancy Decrease Placental Transfer of Antipneumococcus Antibodies.

Noah D McKittrick¹, David M Vu², Indu Malhotra³

¹Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA noahmck@stanford.edu.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI

|April 14, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Maternal parasitic infections like malaria and schistosomiasis reduce the transfer of crucial Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies from mother to infant. This impacts newborn immunity, highlighting a critical area for prenatal care and research.

Keywords:

humoral immunity parasites placental antibody transfer pregnancy

More Related Videos

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Published on: August 6, 2020

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Published on: December 30, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Measuring Naturally Acquired Phagocytosis-Inducing Antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum Parasites by a Flow Cytometry-Based Assay

Published on: August 6, 2020

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Published on: December 30, 2025

Area of Science:

Immunology
Maternal-fetal medicine
Infectious disease

Background:

Maternal antibodies confer vital immunity to newborns.
The impact of maternal parasitic infections on antibody transfer is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how prenatal parasitic infections affect maternal-fetal IgG antibody transfer.
To compare antibody transfer in women with malaria, hookworm, or schistosomiasis versus uninfected women.

Main Methods:

Analysis of maternal plasma and infant cord blood from 100 pregnant Kenyan women (30 uninfected, 30 malaria, 30 hookworm, 10 schistosomiasis).
Multiplex fluorescent bead assay used to quantify IgG antibodies against 10 pneumococcal serotypes, diphtheria toxoid, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.

Main Results:

Infants of mothers with prenatal malaria, hookworm, or Schistosoma haematobium infections showed significantly reduced IgG antibody transfer for multiple Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.
No significant differences in IgG transfer ratios for diphtheria toxoid or Haemophilus influenzae type B antibodies were observed.

Conclusions:

Prenatal parasitic infections impair the placental transfer of maternal IgG antibodies to infants, specifically for several key Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.
This reduction in antibody transfer may compromise neonatal immunity against pneumococcal disease.