Role of zinc insufficiency in fetal alveolar macrophage dysfunction and RSV exacerbation associated with fetal ethanol exposure.

•Fetal ethanol exposure dysregulated zinc homeostasis in alveolar macrophages.•Dysregulated zinc homeostasis resulted in immunosuppression of alveolar macrophages.•Ethanol exposure impaired the capacity of pup alveolar macrophages to clear viruses.•Fetal ethanol exposure exacerbated a lung respiratory syncytial virus infection.•Maternal zinc supplements blocked fetal immunosuppression and lung viral infection.