Six antibody features could be used to identify women at risk of placental malaria
Six antibody characteristics could help scientists identify which pregnant women are at risk of placental malaria infections, finds a study published today in
eLife.
Malaria infections can be devastating for pregnant mothers, particularly during their first pregnancies. If malaria parasites invade the placenta, they can starve babies of nutrition, potentially causing low birth weight, preterm deliveries, stillbirths, and pregnancy loss. But not all women are susceptible to placental malaria infections, and the new study may help clinicians to identify those at risk and researchers to develop new therapies to protect pregnant women from malaria and related complications.