Evaluation of transplacental transfer of mRNA vaccine products and functional antibodies during pregnancy and infancy

Mary Prahl; Yarden Golan; Arianna G Cassidy; Yusuke Matsui; Lin Li; Bonny Alvarenga; Hao Chen; Unurzul Jigmeddagva; Christine Y Lin; Veronica J Gonzalez; Megan A Chidboy; Lakshmi Warrier; Sirirak Buarpung; Amy P Murtha; Valerie J Flaherman; Warner C Greene; Alan H B Wu; Kara L Lynch; Jayant Rajan; Stephanie L Gaw

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-32188-1

Evaluation of transplacental transfer of mRNA vaccine products and functional antibodies during pregnancy and infancy

Nat Commun. 2022 Jul 30;13(1):4422. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-32188-1.

Authors

Mary Prahl^{1

2}, Yarden Golan³, Arianna G Cassidy⁴, Yusuke Matsui⁵, Lin Li^{4

6}, Bonny Alvarenga⁷, Hao Chen⁶, Unurzul Jigmeddagva⁶, Christine Y Lin⁴, Veronica J Gonzalez⁴, Megan A Chidboy^{4

6}, Lakshmi Warrier⁸, Sirirak Buarpung^{4

6}, Amy P Murtha⁶, Valerie J Flaherman⁹, Warner C Greene^{5

8

10}, Alan H B Wu¹¹, Kara L Lynch¹¹, Jayant Rajan⁸, Stephanie L Gaw^{12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. mary.prahl@ucsf.edu.
² Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. mary.prahl@ucsf.edu.
³ Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁵ Gladstone Center for HIV Cure Research, Gladstone Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁶ Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹⁰ Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
¹² Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Stephanie.Gaw@ucsf.edu.
¹³ Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Stephanie.Gaw@ucsf.edu.

Abstract

Studies are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during pregnancy, and the levels of protection provided to their newborns through placental transfer of antibodies. Here, we evaluate the transplacental transfer of mRNA vaccine products and functional anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during pregnancy and early infancy in a cohort of 20 individuals vaccinated during late pregnancy. We find no evidence of mRNA vaccine products in maternal blood, placenta tissue, or cord blood at delivery. However, we find time-dependent efficient transfer of IgG and neutralizing antibodies to the neonate that persists during early infancy. Additionally, using phage immunoprecipitation sequencing, we find a vaccine-specific signature of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein epitope binding that is transplacentally transferred during pregnancy. Timing of vaccination during pregnancy is critical to ensure transplacental transfer of protective antibodies during early infancy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Infant, Newborn
Placenta
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
RNA, Messenger
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Vaccines, Synthetic
mRNA Vaccines

Substances

Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19 Vaccines
Immunoglobulin G
RNA, Messenger
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Vaccines, Synthetic
mRNA Vaccines
spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding