How Ebola reaches the placenta and baby during pregnancy
Identifying placental tissue tropism and cellular mechanisms of Ebola Virus transmission from mother to fetus in pregnancy
Researchers will look at which placental cells Ebola infects and how the virus might pass from a pregnant person to their fetus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166522 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will examine placental tissues and laboratory models to find which cells in the placenta Ebola virus prefers and how the virus gets into those cells. Scientists will compare early and late pregnancy tissues and test candidate cell surface receptors the virus may use to enter placental cells. The work will use tissue staining, molecular detection of viral RNA, cell-based experiments, and animal models to trace routes of mother-to-fetus transmission. Results aim to explain why fetal infection is so common after maternal Ebola and point to ways to protect pregnant people and their babies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be pregnant people with past or recent Ebola virus infection or pregnant people willing to donate placental tissue or amniotic fluid for research.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or who have no exposure to Ebola are unlikely to see direct benefits from this lab-focused research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to prevent mother-to-baby transmission and inform treatments or protective strategies for pregnant people exposed to Ebola.
How similar studies have performed: There are a few pathology reports showing Ebola in placentas and fetal tissues, but experimental studies detailing how Ebola infects placental cells are mostly new and limited.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maury, Wendy Jean — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Maury, Wendy Jean
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.