Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42338490›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2026

TORCH infections at the maternal-fetal placental transmission: an overview of multi-omics, pathogenesis and innate immune defense.

Sanjeev Nirala, Chunming Huang, Qingchun Mu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Sanjeev NiralaAffiliated Gaozhou People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Maoming, China.
Chunming HuangAffiliated Gaozhou People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Maoming, China.
Qingchun MuAffiliated Gaozhou People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Maoming, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The maternal-fetal interface represents a dynamic immunological frontier where pregnancy outcomes are determined by the delicate balance between host defense and microbial pathogenesis. Vertical transmission of pathogens across the placental barrier can lead to devastating consequences including fetal loss, stillbirth, prematurity, and congenital anomalies. The classic TORCH acronym encompasses Toxoplasma gondii, Other agents, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex virus, though emerging viruses including Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2 have expanded this spectrum. This review synthesizes current understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying vertical transmission, emphasizing the placenta's multi-layered defense system encompassing the syncytiotrophoblast physical barrier, specialized decidual immune cell populations including decidual natural killer cells and macrophages, and constitutive antimicrobial signaling pathways focusing on the placenta's multi-layered defense system encompassing the syncytiotrophoblast physical barrier, specialized decidual immune cell populations including decidual natural killer cells and macrophages, and constitutive antimicrobial signaling pathways. Concurrently, we examine pathogen strategies to subvert these defenses through receptor manipulation, immune evasion, and intracellular replication niches. A major focus is dedicated to the impact of proteomics and single-cell multi-omics in deconvoluting the host-pathogen interactome and identifying biomarkers of fetal injury. Recent seroprevalence studies demonstrate that younger women represent the most susceptible population to acute TORCH infections, highlighting the need for targeted screening programs. This synthesis provides a framework for developing precision diagnostics and targeted interventions to prevent vertical transmission and reduce the global burden of congenital infections.

Indexed as

Immunity, InnateInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalPlacentaPregnancy Complications, InfectiousAnimalsFemaleHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansMaternal-Fetal ExchangeMultiomicsPregnancyProteomicsRubellaSARS-CoV-2ToxoplasmaToxoplasmosisdecidual natural killer cellshost-pathogen interactionplacental immunologyproteomicsTORCH infectionsvertical transmissionviral teratogenesis

Identifiers

PMID42338490
PMCPMC13284003

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.