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Related Concept Videos

Microenvironments01:22

Microenvironments

Microorganisms inhabit highly localized spaces known as microenvironments, which are defined by distinct physical and chemical characteristics. These include oxygen concentration, pH, temperature, light availability, and nutrient levels. The conditions within a microenvironment can differ markedly from those in the surrounding area and significantly influence microbial growth, metabolism, and community structure.Microenvironments often display sharp physicochemical gradients over small spatial...
Microbial Mats01:25

Microbial Mats

Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
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Microbial communities in placentas from term normal pregnancy exhibit spatially variable profiles.

Lindsay A Parnell1, Catherine M Briggs1, Bin Cao1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.

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|September 13, 2017
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Summary

The placenta harbors distinct microbial communities in specific locations, challenging the sterile womb theory. These placental microbiota profiles are unique to each niche and unaffected by delivery method.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • The placenta, crucial for fetal development, was traditionally viewed as sterile.
  • Emerging evidence suggests the presence of microbial communities within the placenta.
  • The precise location and function of these microbes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatial distribution and profiles of microbial communities within the term placenta.
  • To determine if placental microbiota composition varies across different placental locations.
  • To assess the impact of delivery mode on placental microbial profiles.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic DNA sequencing of multiple bacterial 16S ribosomal gene variable (V) regions was performed.
  • Microbial profiles were analyzed from the basal plate, placental villi, and fetal membranes.
  • Quantitative PCR and bioinformatics analyses (QIIME, R package "Phyloseq") were used to assess diversity and abundance.

Main Results:

  • Distinct microbial profiles were observed depending on the placental location, indicating spatial heterogeneity.
  • Multi-V region 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed niche-specific bacterial taxa dominance.
  • The mode of delivery did not significantly alter the observed placental microbial profiles.

Conclusions:

  • The human placenta harbors niche-specific microbiota, with distinct bacterial communities residing in different regions.
  • Placental microbiome studies should account for regional variations to accurately understand their role.
  • These findings have implications for maternal, fetal, and neonatal health and physiology.