About this Research Topic

Background

During pregnancy, maternal immunity is re-wired to host the semi-allogeneic organism while maintaining the ability to elicit defense responses to pathogens. Maternal-fetal tolerance is achieved in part by the actions of the placenta, which also represents a physical and physiological barrier against pathogens for the developing organism. However, the susceptibility of the placenta and fetus to certain pathogens, the inflammatory response to them, or a combination of both, may compromise the placental barrier and the maternal-fetal tolerance. Thus, infections represent an important threat for pregnancy, with complications ranging from spontaneous abortions and pre-term birth to perinatal and congenital abnormalities.

The study of the effects of infections during pregnancy is complex, as immune responses vary with the type of pathogen, the stage of the pregnancy, and other risk factors (such as maternal co-morbidities or genetic defects in the fetus). Despite recent advances using genetics, pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo models, and powerful techniques to comprehensively analyze clinical samples, the mechanisms of maternal and fetal immunity during the encounter with pathogens are just beginning to be understood.

This Research Topic aims to explore novel approaches and concepts to expand the current knowledge on the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions during pregnancy, including the maternal-fetal immune crosstalk, and ultimately to aid in the development of countermeasures.

We welcome submissions spanning a variety of aspects related to the immune responses to infections during pregnancy. This may include interactions with teratogenic or not teratogenic pathogens, maternal or fetal/placental immune responses, innate or adaptive immunity, and therapeutics. We are interested in Original Research, Brief Research Report, Case Report, Methods, Review/Mini Review, and Systematic Review articles, focusing on but not limited to the following areas:

• TORCH pathogens and the immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface
• Non-teratogenic pathogens and pregnancy outcomes
• Innate immunity and placental dysfunction
• Consequences of placental/fetal infection on maternal health
• Adaptive immune responses to infections during pregnancy and beyond
• Development of countermeasures to prevent or treat infections during pregnancy
• Consequences of maternal/placental infection on fetal immune development

Keywords: placental immunity, maternal-fetal tolerance, maternal immune responses, teratogenic pathogens, inflammation during pregnancy, pre-natal immunity, placenta, co-infection, host-pathogen interaction, maternal-fetal crosstalk

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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