The placenta nourishes the foetus and supports its development and growth. Our study now identifies the placenta as a potential route for foetal infection with Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus), as indicated by an exaggerated in utero inflammatory response and poor perinatal outcome when group B Streptococcus is detected in the placenta.
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References
Gonçalves, B. P. et al. Group B streptococcus infection during pregnancy and infancy: estimates of regional and global burden. Lancet Glob. Health 10, e807–e819 (2021). A meta-analysis assessing poor maternal and foetal outcomes associated with GBS colonization during pregnancy.
de Goffau, M. C. et al. Human placenta has no microbiome but can contain potential pathogens. Nature 572, 329–334 (2019). Our previous study investigating the placental microbiome.
Kennedy, K. M. et al. Questioning the fetal microbiome illustrates pitfalls of low-biomass microbial studies. Nature 613, 639–649 (2023). A perspective article discussing the presence of microorganisms in the intrauterine environment.
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Gaccioli, F. et al. The pregnancy outcome prediction (POP) study: investigating the relationship between serial prenatal ultrasonography, biomarkers, placental phenotype and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Placenta 59, S17–S25 (2017). A review article on the POP study.
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This is a summary of: Gaccioli, F. et al. Placental Streptococcus agalactiae DNA is associated with neonatal unit admission and foetal pro-inflammatory cytokines in term infants. Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01528-2 (2023).
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Placental group B Streptococcus is associated with increased risk of adverse foetal outcome. Nat Microbiol 9, 15–16 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01539-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01539-z
