US researchers devised a cell-based model of the human placenta that could help explain how pathogens that cause birth defects originating from Zika virus cross from mother to the unborn child. The model can be used to experiment different biological factors to see what might allow an infectious agent to get through the placental barrier to the foetus. With our new model in the research toolkit we and other scientists hope to advance our knowledge of the placenta examine its function and learn how it can prevent most but not all maternal infections from causing problems for the baby said
