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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
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Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: July 21, 2016
21.6K
Protocol for a human placental explant model to study acute responses to pathogens
Elias R Ruiz-Morales1, Regina Hoo2, Ross F Waller3
1Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.
STAR Protocols
|September 18, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a new protocol for investigating intrauterine infections using an ex vivo placental explant model. The method allows for short-term studies of placental infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogen Research
Background:
- Intrauterine infections pose significant risks to pregnancy outcomes.
- Key pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii are linked to severe pregnancy complications.
- Existing models may not fully recapitulate the complexity of placental-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a detailed protocol for studying intrauterine infections using an ex vivo placental explant model.
- To establish a reproducible method for investigating the effects of specific pathogens on placental tissue.
- To facilitate short-term research on placental infections.
Main Methods:
- Development of a protocol for culturing Listeria monocytogenes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii.
- Preparation of placental explants utilizing an air-liquid interface system.
- Execution of infection assays followed by tissue dissociation and CD45+ cell enrichment.
Main Results:
- The protocol enables the successful culture and preparation of placental explants for infection studies.
- Detailed procedures for tissue handling and cell enrichment are provided.
- The ex vivo model supports short-term investigations of placental infections.
Conclusions:
- This protocol offers a valuable tool for studying the pathogenesis of intrauterine infections.
- The ex vivo placental explant model provides a relevant system for understanding host-pathogen dynamics.
- The described methods facilitate research into the impact of Listeria monocytogenes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii on placental health.
