Experts Look Into Vulnerability of Embryos Against COVID-19

A new study recently suggested that human embryos could be vulnerable to COVID-19 as early as the second week of pregnancy if the mother gets ill.

According to researchers, it may COVID-19 could impact the embryo's ability to embed into the womb appropriately. It may also have some implications for fetal health in the future.

The said research, which only made use of gene expression data, showed that the genes for proteins, making cells vulnerable to contagion by the virus, are communicated in the embryo during the development's first two weeks.

These are essential phases in the growth when the embryo gets attached to the womb of the matter and embarks on its tissues' major remodeling. 

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Potential Effect of COVID-19 on Early Embryo

Gene expression is the process by which information or material in the genes is converted into another product, like a protein, for a specific use. In this case, the protein could dictate the function of a cell.

Thousands of genes expressed in a specific cell can distinguish what it can do.

As they only made use of existing gene expression data, the researchers emphasized that their findings have not been verified at the protein level, in animal or stem cell embryo models. 

The study does not show that SARS-CoV-2 is likely to infect embryo cells. However, it suggests that there is a potential route through which it might.

According to the University of Cambridge Professor David Glover and his colleagues, their current research suggests that the impact of COVID-19 contagion on the early embryo needs to be examined further through the use of both the embryo and mouse's stem cell models.

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What Experts Say

Despite the study's suggestion that COVID-19 is likely to affect early embryo, experts claim that even if a pregnant woman is infected with the virus, its transmission to the baby is implausible.

More so, even if the baby gets infected, the experts added, "results are generally good." Imperial College London obstetrics professor, Christopher Lees explained that the work is interesting lab-based research that made use of newly devised culture platforms that allow scientists to look at the gene expression in the early stages of a human embryo.

Some genes, Lees added, may be associated with how SARS-CoV-2 is entering cells. The lab-based study also presents that such genes might be presented at a very early stage. It could increase the probability that the human embryo is possibly vulnerable to the virus.

The obstetrics professor also said that what seems probable in the lab research is a long way to take out what might take place in the human embryo.

No Evidence Yet

Prof. Lees also said that it is essential to note that no evidence can prove that an increased danger of miscarriage or other fetal issues from a lot of known pregnancies has been exposed to the virus up to now.

Meanwhile, according to another obstetrician professor, Andrew Shennan from King's College London, the study looks at how COVID-19 can infest well-conducted science research that proposes the cells of a baby inside a mother's womb in early stages of pregnancy should they be exposed to the virus.

He says that it is not likely for COVID-19 to cross the placenta during pregnancy. More so, Shennan added, even if fetal cells get infected, the study does not specify if the said cells would be harmed.

According to the study, the majority of the cells make a full recovery following infection by the virus.

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