Zika Virus: Mechanisms of Infection During Pregnancy

Trends Microbiol. 2017 Sep;25(9):701-702. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.05.005. Epub 2017 May 31.

Abstract

Immune status changes during pregnancy, with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory contexts at different stages, making pregnant women potentially more susceptible to various infections. Infection by Zika virus during pregnancy can cause developmental damage to the fetus, and the altered immune response during pregnancy could contribute to disease during Zika infection.

Keywords: Zika virus; congenital Zika syndrome; immune status; pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • Zika Virus / isolation & purification
  • Zika Virus / physiology
  • Zika Virus Infection / complications
  • Zika Virus Infection / congenital
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology