Article
Medicine, General & Internal
D. Herbert Opi, Michelle J. Boyle, Alistair R. D. McLean, Linda Reiling, Jo-Anne Chan, Danielle Stanisic, Alice Ura, Ivo Mueller, Freya J. Fowkes, Stephen J. Rogerson, James G. Beeson
Summary: The study identified pregnant women who developed antibodies that effectively promoted complement fixation on placental-binding pRBCs, associated with protection against MiP. These complement-fixing antibodies primarily targeted a specific variant of PfEMP1 called VAR2CSA, and complement enhanced the ability of antibodies to inhibit pRBC binding to CSA for increased protection.
Article
Immunology
Andre Barateiro, Alexsander Rodrigues Carvalho Junior, Sabrina Epiphanio, Claudio Romero Farias Marinho
Summary: Malaria is a significant health burden for populations in developing countries, particularly affecting pregnant women. The inflammation caused by P. falciparum sequestration in the placenta leads to changes in the organ, disrupting local homeostasis. These events are associated with poor gestational outcomes, such as growth restriction and premature delivery. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these outcomes are still poorly understood.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ifigeneia Kassotaki, Georgios Valsamakis, George Mastorakos, Dimitris K. Grammatopoulos
Summary: Early life is a critical period with significant vulnerability to external influences that can impact development and health, especially fetal exposure to prenatal stress which can affect brain development and neurodevelopment of offspring. Increased stress hormones have been associated with alterations in fetal brain structure, while epigenetic changes may lead to long-term modifications of the stress regulatory system in offspring and increased susceptibility to psychosomatic disorders.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yan Luan, Daniel Leclerc, Marta Cosin-Tomas, Olga V. Malysheva, Brandi Wasek, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Marie A. Caudill, Rima Rozen
Summary: High folic acid intake during pregnancy can lead to placental metabolic and gene expression changes, particularly in angiogenesis, which may contribute to abnormal behavior in pups. These results are relevant for determining a safe upper limit for folate intake during pregnancy.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Markos Tesfaye, Jing Wu, Richard J. Biedrzycki, Katherine L. Grantz, Paule Joseph, Fasil Tekola-Ayele
Summary: This study found that poor social support during pregnancy is associated with inflammation, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and childhood health outcomes. Placental epigenetic alterations may be the underlying mechanism, and this study provides evidence of a link between maternal social support and DNA methylation in placenta.
Article
Developmental Biology
Eliza R. McColl, Micheline Piquette-Miller
Summary: Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. This study demonstrated that poly(I:C)-mediated MIA affects placental proteome in a sexually dimorphic manner, with enrichment of mTOR signaling in male placentas. Inhibition of mTORC1 and activation of AMPK in response to MIA decreased membrane localization of EAAT2 and ASCT1, suggesting a potential treatment target for MIA-related placental amino acid transport changes.
Review
Immunology
Benoit Gamain, Arnaud Chene, Nicola K. Viebig, Nicaise Tuikue Ndam, Morten A. Nielsen
Summary: Adults in malaria endemic areas usually acquire clinical immunity against malaria, but pregnant women, especially during their first pregnancies, are susceptible to placental malaria. Placental malaria is characterized by the accumulation of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes and monocytes in the placenta, leading to maternal anaemia, hypertension, and fetal growth retardation. However, the prevalence of placental malaria decreases significantly with successive pregnancies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Adam S. Kirosingh, Alea Delmastro, Abel Kakuru, Kattria van der Ploeg, Sanchita Bhattacharya, Kathleen D. Press, Maureen Ty, Lauren de la Parte, Jimmy Kizza, Mary Muhindo, Sebastien Devachanne, Benoit Gamain, Felistas Nankya, Kenneth Musinguzi, Philip J. Rosenthal, Margaret E. Feeney, Moses Kamya, Grant Dorsey, Prasanna Jagannathan
Summary: This study compared the cellular immune response between primigravid and multigravid women living in a malaria-endemic region. It found that primigravid women had a higher proportion of malaria-specific, non-naive CD4(+) T cells, which was associated with increased risks of parasitaemia during pregnancy and placental malaria.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nino Tetro, Sonia Moushaev, Miri Shmuel, Sara Eyal
Summary: The study found that antiseizure medications, especially at high therapeutic concentrations, may interfere with the placental uptake of choline. Therefore, careful adjustment of maternal doses of ASM is needed during pregnancy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoli Shen, Christian De Geyter, Hong Zhang, Guoning Huang
Summary: Proper placental development and function are crucial for the health of both the mother and the fetus during pregnancy. JMJD6, along with other angiogenic factors, plays a significant role in regulating placental angiogenesis. Understanding the interaction between JMJD6 and other placental factors may identify potential therapeutic targets for correcting abnormal placental angiogenesis and function.
EXPERT REVIEWS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline Atyeo, Krista M. Pullen, Evan A. Bordt, Stephanie Fischinger, John Burke, Ashlin Michell, Matthew D. Slein, Carolin Loos, Lydia L. Shook, Adeline A. Boatin, Laura J. Yockey, David Pepin, Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn, Ngoc Minh Phuong Nguyen, Maeva Chauvin, Drucilla Roberts, Ilona T. Goldfarb, Juan D. Matute, Kaitlyn E. James, Lael M. Yonker, Lisa M. Bebell, Anjali J. Kaimal, Kathryn J. Gray, Douglas Lauffenburger, Andrea G. Edlow, Galit Alter
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection causes more severe disease in pregnant women compared to age-matched non-pregnant women. Transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies across the placenta is significantly reduced compared to other infectious diseases like influenza and pertussis, but can be partially rescued by infection-induced increases in IgG and increased FCGR3A placental expression. These findings provide insights for maternal vaccine design to boost immunity in neonates.
Article
Immunology
Anya L. Arthurs, Melanie D. Smith, Mhyles D. Hintural, James Breen, Dylan McCullough, Francesca I. Thornton, Shalem Y. Leemaqz, Gustaaf A. Dekker, Tanja Jankovic-Karasoulos, Claire T. Roberts
Summary: Parturition signals the end of immune tolerance in pregnancy. The activation of placental inflammasome differs in terms of mode of delivery and neonatal sex. Assessing placental inflammasome activation may identify babies who have been exposed to aberrant inflammation at birth.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jing Li, Xiaojie Quan, Yue Zhang, Ting Yu, Saifei Lei, Zhenyao Huang, Qi Wang, Weiyi Song, Xinxin Yang, Pengfei Xu
Summary: Exposure to the antibacterial agent triclosan (TCS) during pregnancy is associated with abnormal placenta growth and fetal development. This study demonstrates that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) acts as a protector against TCS-induced toxicity. Activation of PPAR gamma could be a promising strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of TCS exposure on the placenta and fetus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shingo Haneda, Pouya Dini, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Edward L. Squires, Mats H. Troedsson, Peter Daels, Yasuo Nambo, Barry A. Ball
Summary: The development and expansion of the placental vascular network in horses is regulated by estrogen, as demonstrated through a study that showed that estrogen suppression led to impaired placental vascular network. This suggests a potential estrogen-dependent vasculogenesis in equine chorionic and allantoic regions during the first trimester of pregnancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Justin Y. A. Doritchamou, Jonathan P. Renn, Bethany Jenkins, Almahamoudou Mahamar, Alassane Dicko, Michal Fried, Patrick E. Duffy
Summary: This study found that a single VAR2CSA ectodomain variant displays conserved epitopes that are targeted by neutralizing antibodies shared by multiple parasite strains, suggesting that a broadly effective placental malaria vaccine can be achieved with a limited number of VAR2CSA variants.
Article
Pediatrics
Julie Korol Wright, Kyla Hayford, Vanessa Tran, Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria, Abdullah Baqui, Ali Manajjir, Arif Mahmud, Nazma Begum, Mashuk Siddiquee, Kevin C. Kain, Azadeh Farzin
Review
Infectious Diseases
Rosauro Varo, Valerie M. Crowley, Antonio Sitoe, Lola Madrid, Lena Serghides, Kevin C. Kain, Quique Bassat
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrea L. Conroy, Michael T. Hawkes, Robyn Elphinstone, Robert O. Opoka, Sophie Namasopo, Christopher Miller, Chandy C. John, Kevin C. Kain
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Bangirana, Andrea L. Conroy, Robert O. Opoka, Michael T. Hawkes, Laura Hermann, Christopher Miller, Sophie Namasopo, W. Conrad Liles, Chandy C. John, Kevin C. Kain
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Langlais, Regina Cencic, Neda Moradin, James M. Kennedy, Kodjo Ayi, Lauren E. Brown, Ian Crandall, Michael J. Tarry, Martin Schmeing, Kevin C. Kain, John A. Porco, Jerry Pelletier, Philippe Gros
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2018)
Article
Cell Biology
Chloe R. McDonald, Lindsay S. Cahill, Joel R. Gamble, Robyn Elphinstone, Lisa M. Gazdzinski, Kathleen J. Y. Zhong, Adrienne C. Philson, Mwayiwawo Madanitsa, Linda Kalilani-Phiri, Victor Mwapasa, Feiko O. ter Kuile, John G. Sled, Andrea L. Conroy, Kevin C. Kain
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2018)
Letter
Pediatrics
Michael T. Hawkes, Andrea L. Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Ravi Bhargava, Kevin C. Kain, Qaasim Mian, Robert O. Opoka
Article
Immunology
Ana Cabrera, Dante Neculai, Vanessa Tran, Thomas Lavstsen, Louise Turner, Kevin C. Kain
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Najwa Najjar, Eliza R. McColl, Andrea Weckman, Kevin C. Kain, Micheline Piquette-Miller
PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rosauro Varo, Clara Erice, Sydney Johnson, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
Article
Immunology
Michelle Ngai, Michael T. Hawkes, Clara Erice, Andrea M. Weckman, Julie Wright, Veselina Stefanova, Robert O. Opoka, Sophie Namasopo, Andrea L. Conroy, Kevin C. Kain
Summary: This study found that intestinal injury is common in children hospitalized with severe malaria in Uganda, and it is associated with microbial translocation, systemic inflammation, tissue hypoperfusion, multiple organ dysfunction, and fatal outcome.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Catherine Mitran, Robert O. Opoka, Andrea L. Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Kevin C. Kain, Michael T. Hawkes
Summary: Lactate levels measured using a handheld device in children hospitalized with malaria and respiratory distress can predict mortality risk.
Article
Immunology
Nuria Balanza, Caroline K. Francis, Valerie M. Crowley, Andrea M. Weckman, Kathleen Zhong, Barbara Baro, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
Summary: In this study, plasma NfL levels were examined in children with uncomplicated and severe malaria. The results showed that the levels increased over time in severe malaria cases, particularly those with neurological manifestations.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Nuria Balanza, Caroline K. Francis, Valerie M. Crowley, Andrea M. Weckman, Kathleen Zhong, Barbara Baro, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrea K. Boggild, Jennifer Geduld, Michael Libman, Cedric P. Yansouni, Anne E. McCarthy, Jan Hajek, Wayne Ghesquiere, Yazdan Mirzanejad, Jean Vincelette, Susan Kuhn, Pierre J. Plourde, Sumontra Chakrabarti, Christina Greenaway, Davidson H. Hamer, Kevin C. Kain
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2019)