Maternal Immunization to Prevent Neonatal Infections

Abstract

The concept of preventing neonatal infections by immunizing pregnant women has been appreciated for over a century and has been studied extensively in the prevention of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis infections.¹ Protective antibodies in the pregnant woman, induced by routine immunization or natural antigenic exposure, are transferred across the placenta to the fetus and transiently protect the newborn from a variety of childhood infections. Transfer is initiated by the binding of immunoglobulins to Fc receptors on the membrane of trophoblasts in the placenta, followed by receptor-mediated endocytosis and active transport. IgG is the only immunoglobulin isotype transported, and IgG₁ . . .