mSphere of Influence: Learning from Nature-Antibody Profiles Important for Protection of Young Infants

mSphere. 2020 Oct 14;5(5):e01021-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.01021-20.

Abstract

Esther Ndungo works in the field of maternal-infant immunity against enteric pathogens. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper "Fc glycan-mediated regulation of placental antibody transfer" by Jennewein et al. (M. F. Jennewein, I. Goldfarb, S. Dolatshahi, C. Cosgrove, et al., Cell 178:202-215.e14, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.05.044) impressed upon her the value of thinking "outside the box" and looking to nature to guide her research.

Keywords: antibody profiles; enteric pathogens; maternal-infant immunity; systems serology.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Maternally-Acquired*
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / immunology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mothers
  • Placenta / immunology*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments