Temporal and spatial variation of the human microbiota during pregnancy
Abstract
The human indigenous microbial communities (microbiota) play critical roles in health and may be especially important for mother and fetus during pregnancy. Using a case-control cohort of 40 women, we characterized weekly variation in the vaginal, gut, and oral microbiota during and after pregnancy. Microbiota membership remained relatively stable at each body site during pregnancy. An altered vaginal microbial community was associated with preterm birth; this finding was corroborated by an analysis of samples from an additional cohort of nine women. We also discovered an abrupt change in the vaginal microbiota at delivery that persisted in some cases for at least 1 y. Our findings suggest that pregnancy outcomes might be predicted by features of the microbiota early in gestation.
- Publication:
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- September 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1502875112
- Bibcode:
- 2015PNAS..11211060D