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Neumann CJ, Pausan MR, Haid V, Weiss EC, Kolovetsiou-Kreiner V, Amtmann B, Winkler P, Mahnert A, Jantscher-Krenn E, Moissl-Eichinger C. The dynamics of the female microbiome: unveiling abrupt changes of microbial domains across body sites from prepartum to postpartum phases. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0014724. [PMID: 38917430 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00147-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbial ecosystem of women undergoes enormous changes during pregnancy and the perinatal period. Little is known about the extent of changes in the maternal microbiome beyond the vaginal cavity and its recovery after birth. In this study, we followed pregnant women [maternal prepartum (mpre), n = 30] into the postpartum period [1 month postpartum, maternal postpartum (mpost), n = 30]. We profiled their oral, urinary, and vaginal microbiome; archaeome; mycobiome; and urinary metabolome and compared them with those of nonpregnant (np) women (n = 29). Overall, pregnancy status (np, mpre, and mpost) had a smaller effect on the microbiomes than body site, but massive transitions were observed for the oral and urogenital (vaginal and urinary) microbiomes. While the oral microbiome fluctuates during pregnancy but stabilizes rapidly within the first month postpartum, the urogenital microbiome is characterized by a major remodeling caused by a massive loss of Lactobacillus and thus a shift from Vaginal Community State Type (CST) I (40% of women) to CST IV (85% of women). The urinary metabolome rapidly reached an np-like composition after delivery, apart from lactose and oxaloacetic acid, which were elevated during active lactation. Fungal and archaeal profiles were indicative of pregnancy status. Methanobacterium signatures were found mainly in np women, and Methanobrevibacter showed an opposite behavior in the oral cavity (increased) and vagina (decreased) during pregnancy. Our findings suggest that the massive remodeling of the maternal microbiome and metabolome needs more attention and that potential interventions could be envisioned to optimize recovery and avoid long-term effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancies. IMPORTANCE The perinatal microbiome is of specific interest for the health of the mother and infant. We therefore investigate the dynamics of the female microbiome from nonpregnant over prepartum to the postpartum period in urine and the oral and vaginal cavities. A specific focus of this study is put not only on the bacterial part of the microbiome but also on the underinvestigated contribution of fungi and archaea. To our knowledge, we present the first study highlighting those aspects. Our findings suggest that the massive remodeling of the maternal microbiome and metabolome needs more attention and that potential interventions could be envisioned to optimize recovery and avoid long-term effects on maternal health and subsequent pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte J Neumann
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Manuela-Raluca Pausan
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Victoria Haid
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Eva-Christine Weiss
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | | | - Bettina Amtmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Petra Winkler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Evelyn Jantscher-Krenn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
- Research Unit Early Life Determinants (ELiD), Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Styria, Austria
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Styria, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Styria, Austria
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Shaw GM, Gonzalez DJX, Goin DE, Weber KA, Padula AM. Ambient Environment and the Epidemiology of Preterm Birth. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:361-377. [PMID: 38705646 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with substantial mortality and morbidity. We describe environmental factors that may influence PTB risks. We focus on exposures associated with an individual's ambient environment, such as air pollutants, water contaminants, extreme heat, and proximities to point sources (oil/gas development or waste sites) and greenspace. These exposures may further vary by other PTB risk factors such as social constructs and stress. Future examinations of risks associated with ambient environment exposures would benefit from consideration toward multiple exposures - the exposome - and factors that modify risk including variations associated with the structural genome, epigenome, social stressors, and diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Shaw
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Center for Academic Medicine (CAM), 453 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
| | - David J X Gonzalez
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 2121 Berkeley Way, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dana E Goin
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kari A Weber
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, RAHN 6219, Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Amy M Padula
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, #103N, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Stevenson DK, Winn VD, Shaw GM, England SK, Wong RJ. Solving the Puzzle of Preterm Birth. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:291-300. [PMID: 38705641 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Solving the puzzle of preterm birth has been challenging and will require novel integrative solutions as preterm birth likely arises from many etiologies. It has been demonstrated that many sociodemographic and psychological determinants of preterm birth relate to its complex biology. It is this understanding that has enabled the development of a novel preventative strategy, which integrates the omics profile (genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, microbiome) with sociodemographic, environmental, and psychological determinants of individual pregnant people to solve the puzzle of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Biomedical Innovations Building (BMI), 240 Pasteur Drive, Room 2652, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Virginia D Winn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive, Stem Cell and Perinatal Biology, Stanford University of School of Medicine, Biomedical Innovations Building (BMI), 240 Pasteur Drive, Module 2700, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Biomedical Innovations Building (BMI), 240 Pasteur Drive, Room 2652, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sarah K England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ronald J Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Biomedical Innovations Building (BMI), 240 Pasteur Drive, Room 2652, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Ottinger S, Robertson CM, Branthoover H, Patras KA. The human vaginal microbiota: from clinical medicine to models to mechanisms. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102422. [PMID: 38215548 PMCID: PMC11160953 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiota is linked to numerous reproductive health problems, including increased susceptibility to infection, pregnancy complications, and impaired vaginal tissue repair; however, the mechanisms contributing to these adverse outcomes are not yet fully defined. In this review, we highlight recent clinical advancements associating vaginal microbiome composition and function with health outcomes. Subsequently, we provide a summary of emerging models employed to identify microbe-microbe interactions contributing to vaginal health, including metagenomic sequencing, multi-omics approaches, and advances in vaginal microbiota cultivation. Last, we review new in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, such as organoids and humanized microbiota murine models, used to define and mechanistically explore host-microbe interactions at the vaginal mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Ottinger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Clare M Robertson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Holly Branthoover
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kathryn A Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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