Researchers from Great Britain found that a coronavirus infection suffered by the mother affects the immune system of the newborn. The article of scientists was published in the magazine Nature Immunology.
Specialists from the Royal College of London appreciated the health of the newborns in 30 mothers who are ill (whose PCR testing was conducted no later than two weeks before childbirth) or already undergoing COVID-19. It turned out that the children’s first had the above content of natural killers and some T-cell types. The level of plasma cytokines – small information molecules – was elevated in newborns from both groups, which, according to researchers, suggests that the mother infection affects the change in the immune system of the newborn.
also found out that mothers provide their children passive immunity, transmitting antibody against SARS-COV-2 through the placenta. This was especially noticeable for those women who suffered COVID-19 in the early stages of pregnancy. Researchers plan to find out whether the virus itself is transferred to the child.
Previously, American scientists found that the mother is able to transmit antibodies to coronavirus to their children through breast milk.