F Talebizadeh - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran Universityof Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
MR Dabbagh - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran Universityof Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
H Kazemi - Department of Biology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University,Dezful, Iran

Background: One of the challenges associated with the COVID-۱۹ pandemic was the impact of the SARS-CoV۲ virus onpregnant mothers and, subsequently on their infants. While therehave been reports of neonatal infections, no direct evidence of vertical intrauterine transmission has been found. This bioinformaticss tudy aimed to inves tigate the overexpression of genesinvolved in the SARS-CoV۲ signaling pathway in the umbilicalcord blood of pregnant women exposed to COVID-۱۹. Thesefindings lead to a better unders tanding of the effects of exposureto COVID-۱۹ in the early s tages of life, vertical transmissionfrom mother to fetus, and therapeutic targets.Materials and Methods: The gene expression profile ofGSE۱۹۵۹۳۸, selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database,was analyzed for differential gene expression betweenexposed to COVID-۱۹ and control term neonates by TranscriptomeAnalysis Console software.Results: Overexpression of ۱۴ essential genes involved inthe SARS-CoV-۲ signaling pathway, such as RAP۱GDS۱,SMAD۵, TRIM۵۹, etc., was observed in cord blood samples ofpregnant women exposed to COVID-۱۹. (P value<۰.۰۵, Foldchange> ۱).Conclusion: In s tudies to date, no positive RT-PCR resultswere observed in amniotic fluid, placenta, or umbilical cordblood, and the probability of vertical transmission was not reported.Despite the overexpression of ۷۰۹ genes in samples exposedto COVID-۱۹ compared to normal, we see no differencein ace۲ gene expression. Nevertheless, ۱۴ overexpressed genesare involved in the SARS-CoV-۲ signaling pathway, which mayindicate indirect effects of coronavirus on the fetus and verticaltransmission

COVID-۱۹, Neonatal, SARS-CoV-۲ Virus, VerticalTransmission, Pregnancy