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Updated: May 22, 2026
07:04
Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: July 21, 2016
Nanobacteria may be linked to calcification in placenta
He Lu1, Ya-nan Guo, Sheng-nan Liu
1Department of Pathobiology, Chong Qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China. lhluhe@163.com
Ultrastructural Pathology
|May 8, 2012
Summary
Researchers isolated and cultured nanobacteria from placental calcification, suggesting a link between nanobacteria infection and this common obstetric condition.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Placental calcification is a frequent pathological finding in obstetrics.
- The underlying mechanisms, particularly infectious agents, remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of nanobacteria in placental calcification.
- To isolate, culture, and identify nanobacteria within calcified placental tissues.
Main Methods:
- Collected sixteen placental calcification samples from pregnant women.
- Utilized transmission electron microscopy to identify nanobacteria-like particles (NLP).
- Cultured and identified isolates using 16S rDNA sequencing and PCR amplification.
Main Results:
- Nanobacteria-like particles (50-500 nm) were observed within the extracellular matrix of calcified tissues, associated with hydroxyapatite crystals.
- Culturing of placental tissues yielded visible white granular depositions, indicative of bacterial growth.
- Sequencing of a 1407-bp fragment revealed 92% homology to known nanobacteria strains.
Conclusions:
- Successfully isolated and cultured nanobacteria from placental calcification samples.
- This study provides the first evidence linking nanobacteria infection to placental calcification.
- Identified nanobacteria as a potential causative agent in placental calcification.
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