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Maternal microbiomes in preterm birth: Recent progress and analytical pipelines
Lindsay A Parnell1, Catherine M Briggs1, Indira U Mysorekar2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Insights
Preterm birth, affecting 10% of newborns globally, may be linked to the maternal microbiome. Research explores connections between the gut, vaginal, cervical, and placental microbiomes and preterm birth risk.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Obstetrics
- Genomics
Background:
- Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks' gestation) affects 10% of infants globally.
- Current strategies for preventing preterm birth have limited success.
- Infection and idiopathic causes account for most preterm births.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of the maternal microbiome in the etiology of preterm birth.
- To review current data correlating maternal microbiomes with preterm birth.
- To discuss common microbiome analysis methods and considerations.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of maternal intestinal, vaginal, cervical, and placental microbiomes.
- Review of existing scientific literature and data.
- Description of standard microbiome analysis techniques.
Main Results:
- Emerging data suggest correlations between preterm birth and alterations in maternal intestinal, vaginal, cervical, and placental microbiomes.
- Specific microbial profiles are associated with increased preterm birth risk.
- Commonly used microbiome analysis methods are presented.
Conclusions:
- The maternal microbiome is a potential contributing factor to preterm birth.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms.
- Standardized methods are crucial for reliable microbiome studies in pregnancy.
Abstract:
Worldwide, 10% of babies are born preterm, defined as birth before 37 weeks' gestation. We have had little success in developing strategies to prevent preterm births, the majority of which are due to infection or are idiopathic. An emerging hypothesis is that the maternal microbiome-the bacteria that inhabit the mother's body and play vital functions in normal health-contributes to the etiology of preterm birth. Here, we highlight the latest data revealing correlations between preterm birth and maternal intestinal, vaginal, cervical, and placental microbiomes. Additionally, we describe the most commonly used comparative microbiome analysis methods and highlight important issues to consider when conducting such studies.
