Placental Viral Infection Sensitizes to Endotoxin-Induced Pre-Term Labor: A Double Hit Hypothesis

Abstract

We describe for the first time that a sub-clinical viral infection in pregnant mice might sensitize to a bacterial infection leading to pre-term delivery. We propose the 'Double Hit Hypothesis' where the presence of a viral infection enhances the effect of bacterial products during pregnancy leading not only to pre-term labor but likely larger adverse outcomes.