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Review
. 2021 Nov 6;9(11):2305.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9112305.

Serological Responses to Influenza Vaccination during Pregnancy

Ana Vazquez-Pagan  1   2 , Stacey Schultz-Cherry  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Serological Responses to Influenza Vaccination during Pregnancy

Ana Vazquez-Pagan et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Pregnant women, newborns, and infants under six months old are at the highest risk of developing severe and even fatal influenza. This risk is compounded by the inability to vaccinate infants under six months, highlighting the importance of vertically transferred immunity. This review identifies novel insights that have emerged from recent studies using animal models of pregnancy and vaccination. We also discuss the knowledge obtained using existing clinical trials that have evaluated influenza-specific serological responses in pregnant women and how these responses may impact early life immunity. We delineate the mechanisms involved in transferring specific maternal antibodies and discuss the consequences for early life immunity. Most importantly, we highlight the need for continued research using pregnant animal models and the inclusion of pregnant women, a commonly neglected population, when evaluating novel vaccine platforms to better serve and treat communicable diseases.

Keywords: early life immunity; immunological blunting; influenza vaccine; maternal antibody interference; passive immunity; placenta; pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
One of the main mechanisms of vertically transferred immunity during pregnancy is the transplacental transfer of IgG. IgG1 is the main subtype that is predominantly transferred to the infant, with other subtypes being transferred to a lesser degree. The transport of IgG across the placental barrier is mediated by the FcRn. FcRn is primarily expressed in placental syncytiotrophoblasts, the outermost layer of the placental villus. This figure was created with Bio Render, Inkscape, and Affinity Designer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Another crucial mechanism of vertically transferred immunity during pregnancy is the transfer of secretory IgA via breast-milk post-birth. IgA1 and IgA2 are the main subtypes transferred to the infant, with IgA1 being crucial for protection against influenza virus infection. This figure was created with Bio Render and Affinity Designer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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