Match the following choices to the statements in questions 5–7:

a. IgA

b. IgD

c. IgE

d. IgG

e. IgM

Antibodies that protect the fetus and newborn.

Video transcript

Hi and welcome. Our next question says which of the following antibodies can readily cross the placenta during pregnancy? A igabiggcige or digd. So these are all different classes of antibodies. But the one that is able to cross the placenta easily is a choice. Bigg. Now, what is the reason this exists? What's the benefit here? It's so that the mother can pass some passive immunity to certain pathogens to the fetus that will protect the baby when born for the first few months of life from those pathogens. So, in that vulnerable newborn period, when the immune system isn't fully matured, the infant has the benefit of this immunity passed on from its mother to several different pathogens. This is for example, why pregnant women are recommended to be immunized against pertussis during pregnancy. Pertussis is very dangerous to newborns. But the vaccine can't be given to infants until two months of age. So in this case, the IgG antibodies formed pertussis as a result of the vaccine can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy and provide that protection. So our other antibodies igaige and IgD do not readily cross the placenta and therefore can't be used to give that passive immunity. So our answer once again, for the antibodies that can readily cross the placenta during pregnancy is choice Bigg. See you in the next video.