Cytomegalovirus infection and pathogenesis in the human placenta

Lenore Pereira; Takako Tabata; Matthew Petitt

doi:10.1071/MA15061

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Cytomegalovirus infection and pathogenesis in the human placenta

Lenore Pereira ^A ^B , Takako Tabata ^A and Matthew Petitt ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA

^B Tel: 415 476 8248
Email: Lenore.Pereira@UCSF.edu

Microbiology Australia 36(4) 171-174 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA15061
Published: 27 October 2015

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of congenital viral infection. Affected children can have permanent neurological complications, including hearing loss, visual impairment and mental retardation¹^–³. In Australia, 57% of women are seronegative and at risk for primary infection and transmission of virus to the fetus during pregnancy⁴. Despite its public health significance, the specific molecular and cellular basis of HCMV replication in the human placenta and pathogenesis associated with poor clinical outcome are unknown. Direct fetal infection is involved in severe cases of neuropathology and infection of the placenta can impair its development and functions resulting in a hypoxic environment⁵^–⁸ and stillbirth⁶^,⁹^,¹⁰. Gestational age at the time of infection is an important determinant of outcome. The rates of virus transmission increase from 30% in first trimester to over 70% in third trimester suggesting different mechanisms for overcoming the placental barrier². Remarkable insights into viral pathogenesis factors that function in the tissue environment have been gained by studying congenitally infected placentas and explants infected by clinical strains ex vivo. Together these studies revealed that direct infection of specialised placental cells and paracrine factors contribute to impaired development and functional defects.

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