Perinatal Cytomegalovirus and Varicella Zoster Virus Infections

Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) can lead to severe birth defects and neurologic impairment of infants. Congenital CMV is the most common congenital infection and the leading infectious cause of infant hearing loss and neurologic deficits, complicating up to 1% of all pregnancies globally. While antiviral treatment of congenitally CMV-infected infants can ameliorate the CMV-associated hearing loss and developmental delay, interventions to prevent congenital CMV infection and the associated neurologic impairments are still being evaluated. Moreover, an effective CMV vaccine to protect mothers against CMV acquisition during pregnancy is urgently needed to reduce the sizeable health and economic burden of this disease. In contrast, congenital VZV infection is rare, attributable to the availability of an effective VZV vaccine, high rates of preexisting VZV immunity prior to pregnancy, and poorly efficient in utero VZV transmission. Moreover, passive immunization of exposed pregnant women or infants with VZV hyperimmune globulin can prevent severe disease in those that do not have prior immunity. Active and passive immunization strategies to prevent perinatal CMV infection with similar efficacy to those established to prevent perinatal VZV infections are a critical need in pediatric health.

The expression level of C19MC miRNAs in early pregnancy and in response to viral infection

“…Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Zika are current examples of blood borne viruses that can evade the placental barrier and affect fetal neurological development [5,6]. Influenza is not known to have direct fetal effects, and pregnant women account for a disproportionate degree of the severe morbidity and mortality [7].…”

Single-cycle adenovirus vectors in the current vaccine landscape

“…Approximately, 8,000 of these babies will be born with microcephaly (similar to that caused by Zika virus), hearing or vision loss, seizures, and intellectual disabilities, and 400 may die (24, 25). Attenuated CMV vaccines are potent, but this may be related to their ability to establish latent infections.…”

Piracy on the molecular level: human herpesviruses manipulate cellular chemotaxis

“…With a seroprevalence worldwide ranging from 45 to 100%, hCMV is a common human pathogen that is often asymptomatic in infected adults and children (Cannon et al, 2010;Chen et al, 1999;McGavran & Smith, 1965). hCMV has gained public scrutiny and awareness owing to further understanding of its prevalence in causing congenital infections leading to birth defects (Bialas et al, 2015). In the USA it is a more common cause of birth defects than many other causes, including fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, spina bifida, HIV/AIDS, Haemophilus influenzae type B and congenital rubella syndrome (Cannon & Davis, 2005).…”