Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy on fetal immune state

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Maternal COVID- 19 is associated with immune activation and inflammatory response in the pregnant individual and an altered immune repertoire in the placenta. Mother-to-child transmission of infection is reported but uncommon. Still, the potential impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the immunologic and inflammatory state of the infant is of interest, both for the acute health of the newborn and longer-term outcomes. In this talk, we will discuss the mixed data from cord blood and infant studies of cytokine profiles, transcriptomics, immunophenotyping, and functional studies. We will address the timing and severity of maternal infection as we explore the potential immunological consequences of in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.