Immunologist Ilhem Messaoudi discusses the maternal-fetal immune system

University of Kentucky Research Media

According to a new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study, asymptomatic COVID-19 infection during pregnancy could still have potential long-term consequences for a developing baby. The study led by Ilhem Messoudi, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, was published in Cell Reports May 25, 2022. The research shows that COVID-19 infection in pregnant mothers who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms still triggered immune responses causing inflammation in the placenta. In this podcast she discusses a wide range of immune-focused projects, from maternal obesity and its impact on child health, to the immune impact of chronic heavy drinking and aging.