Infections during pregnancy may interfere with genes linked to prenatal brain development
In a study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry , researchers at the University of Cyprus, University of Cambridge, University of California, San Diego, and Stanford University used rats and mice to help map the complex biological cascade caused by the mother's immune response, which may lead to important consequences. Maternal infections during pregnancy are a known risk factor for abnormal fetal development. Most strikingly, this has been seen during the recent emergence of Zika virus, which led to babies being born with an abnormally small head and brain (known as ' microcephaly '). In the case of Zika, the virus has its impact by directly attacking fetal brain tissue. However, for most other infections, such as influenza, the infectious agent typically has a more indirect impact on fetal development. Large population-based studies have previously shown that a variety of maternal infections during pregnancy are associated with small increases in the risk...