The immune system of preterm infants: an overview

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Preterm infants, born before 37 weeks gestation, face high infection-related morbidity and mortality due to immune system immaturity.
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Both innate and adaptive immune cells in preterm infants exhibit phenotypic and functional immaturity compared to term infants.
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Reduced antibody levels and diminished vaccine immunogenicity in preterm infants contribute to impaired pathogen clearance.
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Rapid immune maturation occurs in preterm infants during the first year, leading to less pronounced differences from term infants.
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Understanding immune immaturity in preterm infants is crucial for developing strategies to improve their health outcomes.

Frontiers In Immunology

by Mirjam J. Esser, Sanne J. C. M. Claassen, Melania P. Ebrahimi, Stan Berkers, Tim G. A. M. Wolfs, Magdalena A. Berkowska, Gertjan J. A. Driessen, Else M. Bijker
June 5, 2026

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