The goal of a new study published in JAMA Network Open was to investigate whether key biological characteristics of maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and placental function and pathology have implications for vertical transmission and neonatal protection.

This prospective cohort study recruited 127 pregnant women.

The results exhibited no maternal viremia, placental infection or vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile, compromised transplacental transfer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with robust transfer of influenza-specific immunity and nonoverlapping placental expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane serine protease 2 were detected.

The findings indicated that, despite low rates of maternal viremia and patterns of placental SARS-CoV-2 receptor distribution and the rarity of vertical transmission, inefficient transplacental transfer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may leave neonates at risk for infection.

Source: JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(12):e2030455. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.30455