Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:36
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Overview of perinatal HIV infection
1Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.
The Journal of Nutrition
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Preventing mother-to-infant HIV transmission is crucial. A US trial showed zidovudine (AZT) reduced perinatal HIV transmission by two-thirds, offering hope for simpler global strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The global Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic significantly impacts child health.
- Mother-to-infant transmission is the primary route of HIV infection in infants and young children.
- Without effective prevention, HIV is projected to infect millions globally by 2000.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in reducing perinatal HIV transmission.
- To explore potential simpler prevention strategies for developing countries.
Main Methods:
- A United States clinical trial administered zidovudine (AZT) prenatally, intrapartum, and to the infant for six weeks.
- Observational cohort data were analyzed for risk factors including maternal health, viral load, and labor duration.
Main Results:
- The zidovudine (AZT) regimen reduced perinatal HIV transmission by two-thirds.
- Advanced maternal HIV disease, lower CD4+ counts, and higher viral burden are associated with increased transmission risk.
- Maternal vitamin A levels, drug use, and prolonged membrane rupture may also influence transmission.
Conclusions:
- Antiretroviral therapy, specifically zidovudine (AZT), is highly effective in preventing mother-to-infant HIV transmission.
- These findings encourage the development of simpler, applicable prevention strategies for resource-limited settings.
- International trials investigating perinatal vitamin A and micronutrients are underway to further explore prevention options.
More Related Videos
08:12Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
05:22Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: December 30, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development 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...
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...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:28Development 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,...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...