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Is a foetus developing in a sterile environment?

P Panigrahi, T M Wassenaar

Author affiliations (2)
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center ROR
  • Molecular Microbiology and Genomics Consultants (Germany) ROR

Letters in Applied Microbiology, 59(6), 572-579, 2014

DOI 10.1111/lam.12334 PMID 25273890

Abstract

Novel findings in microbiology question the long-standing paradigm that a healthy pregnancy implies a sterile uterus. It now seems that the placenta is frequently colonized with bacteria, and a placental microbiome has been identified. Recent literature findings are summarized here, and an attempt is made to separate pathological bacterial presence from a naturally occurring microbiome.

Topics

Pregnancy > Placental Biology > Placental MicrobiomePregnancy > Fetal Development > Intrauterine EnvironmentGeneral OB/GYN > Microbiology > Reproductive Tract Microbiome
placental microbiome sterile uterus paradigm, fetal sterile environment bacteria colonization pregnancy, Wassenaar Panigrahi placental microbiome review, intrauterine bacteria healthy pregnancy microbiome, placental colonization pathological versus commensal bacteria, in utero microbiome fetal development, sterile womb hypothesis challenged microbiology, maternal placental bacterial communities pregnancy, prenatal microbiome colonization mechanisms, placental microbiota composition identification
PMID 25273890 25273890 DOI 10.1111/lam.12334 10.1111/lam.12334

Cite this article

Wassenaar, T. M., & Panigrahi, P. (2014). Is a foetus developing in a sterile environment?. *Letters in applied microbiology*, *59*(6), 572-579. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.12334

Keywords

Amniotic Fluid/microbiology, Bacteria/growth & Development/isolation & Purification, Bacterial Infections/microbiology, Female, Fetal Development, Fetus/microbiology, Humans, Infant, Microbiota, Placenta/microbiology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology, Premature Birth/etiology, Amniotic Fluid, Breast Milk, Neonatal Sepsis, Newborn Colonization, Placenta Microbiome, Placental Microbiome, Preterm Birth