Previous maternal infection protects offspring from enterovirus infection and prevents experimental diabetes development in mice.

Aims/hypothesis Enterovirus (e.g. Coxsackie B virus serotypes [CVBs]) infections may be associated with development of type 1 diabetes. Studies conducted in several European countries have, however, shown an inverse correlation between the incidence of type 1 diabetes and the prevalence of enterovirus infections. These findings could in part be explained by an extension of the poliovirus hypothesis, suggesting that the absence of maternally transferred antibodies protecting offspring from early infection increases the risk for diabetes development. Experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis in type 1 diabetes is, however, lacking. As maternally transferred protection from infection is a crucial component of the extended poliovirus hypothesis, we here tested the hypothesis that previously infected females transfer protection against infection and diabetes to offspring.