The blood samples of 1470 pregnant women were analyzed. Of the 83 women who carried novel coronavirus antibody during delivery, 72 newborns also had antibodies. This shows that these babies have acquired this passive immunity.
The antibody that crosses the placenta is immunoglobulin G or IgG antibody, which is produced a few days after novel coronavirus's infection and protects the human body. This study is based on immunoglobulin M(IgM? ) Antibodies are usually detected shortly after infection, and none of the babies showed that they were not infected with novel coronavirus.
The researchers said that the number of antibodies passed to the baby depends largely on the type and number of antibodies in the mother's body and the length of time that the mother was infected with novel coronavirus during pregnancy.
The longer the time from maternal infection to delivery, the higher the possibility of antibody transfer. ? The researchers, Dr. Karen Poirot and Dr. Scott hensley of the perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said that this correlation was true whether the mother was infected with novel coronavirus or not.
The researchers said that the transferred antibodies may protect newborns, but it is necessary to determine the level and type of antibodies needed to protect newborns from novel coronavirus infection, and how long these antibodies can last in newborns. In addition, another big problem is the transferred antibody? Neutralization? The function of novel coronavirus is the ability of antibody to prevent virus cell infection.
Dr Froni Osrivas, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA, said: Studying the natural transfer of antibodies after infection in novel coronavirus can study whether vaccination for pregnant women can provide similar protection for newborns. ?