Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Gestational Viral Infections: Role of Host Immune System
Silvia Beltrami1, Sabrina Rizzo1, Giovanna Schiuma1
1Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Abstract:
Viral infections in pregnancy are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Infections can develop in the neonate transplacentally, perinatally, or postnatally (from breast milk or other sources) and lead to different clinical manifestations, depending on the viral agent and the gestational age at exposure. Viewing the peculiar tolerogenic status which characterizes pregnancy, viruses could exploit this peculiar immunological status to spread or affect the maternal immune system, adopting several evasion strategies. In fact, both DNA and RNA virus might have a deep impact on both innate and acquired immune systems. For this reason, investigating the interaction with these pathogens and the host's immune system during pregnancy is crucial not only for the development of most effective therapies and diagnosis but mostly for prevention. In this review, we will analyze some of the most important DNA and RNA viruses related to gestational infections.
Related Concept Videos
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Viral Recombination
Retroviruses
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Development of Immunocompetence
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...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

