Early pregnancy vaginal microbiome trends and preterm birth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite decades of attempts to link infectious agents to preterm birth, an exact causative microbe or community of microbes remains elusive. Nonculture 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing suggests important racial differences and pregnancy specific changes in the vaginal microbial communities. A recent study examining the association of the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth documented important findings but was performed in a predominantly white cohort. Given the important racial differences in bacterial communities within the vagina as well as persistent racial disparities in preterm birth, it is important to examine cohorts with varied demographic compositions.

Objective

To characterize vaginal microbial community characteristics in a large, predominantly Afric

SUBMITTER: Stout MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581228 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature