Many infectious agents cause abortion in humans and in animals. In this issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, an article by Salcedo et al [1] describes the behavior of Brucella strains in human trophoblasts and presents data that change the current paradigm regarding Brucella virulence. Brucellosis is a serious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. The disease affects all spe...

During pregnancy the placenta is essential for the growing fetus as it provides oxygen and nutrients and accomplishes waste disposal by connecting the maternal and fetal circulations. To form a functional placenta the fetomaternal interface must be properly developed. For this, fetal extravillous trophoblasts need to invade the maternal placental bed thereby remodeling the maternal spiral arter...