Parity and gestational age are associated with vaginal microbiota composition in term and late term pregnancies.
Gestational age
Microbiota
Nulliparous
Pregnancy
Vagina
Journal
EBioMedicine
ISSN: 2352-3964
Titre abrégé: EBioMedicine
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101647039
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jul 2022
Jul 2022
Historique:
received:
20
01
2022
revised:
09
04
2022
accepted:
27
05
2022
pubmed:
28
6
2022
medline:
20
7
2022
entrez:
27
6
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Vaginal microbiota and its potential contribution to preterm birth is under intense research. However, only few studies have investigated the vaginal microbiota in later stages of pregnancy or at the onset of labour. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyse cross-sectional vaginal swab samples from 324 Finnish women between 37-42 weeks of gestation, sampled before elective caesarean section, at the onset of spontaneous labour, and in pregnancies lasting ≥41 weeks of gestation. Microbiota data were combined with comprehensive clinical data to identify factors associated with microbiota variation. Vaginal microbiota composition associated strongly with advancing gestational age and parity, i.e. presence of previous deliveries. Absence of previous deliveries was a strong predictor of Lactobacillus crispatus dominated vaginal microbiota, and the relative abundance of L. crispatus was higher in late term pregnancies, especially among nulliparous women. This study identified late term pregnancy and reproductive history as factors underlying high abundance of gynaecological health-associated L. crispatus in pregnant women. Our results suggest that the vaginal microbiota affects or reflects the regulation of the duration of gestation and labour onset, with potentially vast clinical utilities. Further studies are needed to address the causality and the mechanisms on how previous labour, but not pregnancy, affects the vaginal microbiota. Parity and gestational age should be accounted for in future studies on vaginal microbiota and reproductive outcomes. This research was supported by EU H2020 programme Sweet Crosstalk ITN (814102), Academy of Finland, State Research Funding, and University of Helsinki.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Vaginal microbiota and its potential contribution to preterm birth is under intense research. However, only few studies have investigated the vaginal microbiota in later stages of pregnancy or at the onset of labour.
METHODS
METHODS
We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyse cross-sectional vaginal swab samples from 324 Finnish women between 37-42 weeks of gestation, sampled before elective caesarean section, at the onset of spontaneous labour, and in pregnancies lasting ≥41 weeks of gestation. Microbiota data were combined with comprehensive clinical data to identify factors associated with microbiota variation.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Vaginal microbiota composition associated strongly with advancing gestational age and parity, i.e. presence of previous deliveries. Absence of previous deliveries was a strong predictor of Lactobacillus crispatus dominated vaginal microbiota, and the relative abundance of L. crispatus was higher in late term pregnancies, especially among nulliparous women.
INTERPRETATION
CONCLUSIONS
This study identified late term pregnancy and reproductive history as factors underlying high abundance of gynaecological health-associated L. crispatus in pregnant women. Our results suggest that the vaginal microbiota affects or reflects the regulation of the duration of gestation and labour onset, with potentially vast clinical utilities. Further studies are needed to address the causality and the mechanisms on how previous labour, but not pregnancy, affects the vaginal microbiota. Parity and gestational age should be accounted for in future studies on vaginal microbiota and reproductive outcomes.
FUNDING
BACKGROUND
This research was supported by EU H2020 programme Sweet Crosstalk ITN (814102), Academy of Finland, State Research Funding, and University of Helsinki.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35759916
pii: S2352-3964(22)00288-2
doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104107
pmc: PMC9250009
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
104107Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests. KK has received doctoral student salary from the University of Helsinki, and grants from Orion Research Foundation and the Finnish Medical Foundation. VS and LR have received clinical researcher grants. AS has received a grant from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and article processing charges from the University of Helsinki. IK has received grants from the Academy of Finland, the Finnish Medical Foundation, and State Research Funding. VS is a board member of the International Society for Placenta Accreta Spectrum, and IK is a board member of the Finnish Colposcopy Society.