Microbial prevalence, diversity and abundance in amniotic fluid during preterm labor: a molecular and culture-based investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preterm delivery causes substantial neonatal mortality and morbidity. Unrecognized intra-amniotic infections caused by cultivation-resistant microbes may play a role. Molecular methods can detect, characterize and quantify microbes independently of traditional culture techniques. However, molecular studies that define the diversity and abundance of microbes invading the amniotic cavity, and evaluate their clinical significance within a causal framework, are lacking.

Methods and findings

In parallel with culture, we used broad-range end-point and real-time PCR assays to amplify, identify and quantify ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of bacteria, fungi and archaea from amniotic fluid of 166 women in preterm labor with intact membranes. We sequenced up to 24 rRNA clones per posi

SUBMITTER: DiGiulio DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2516597 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature