A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a significant public health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although studies have suggested that microbial factors in vaginal microbiota...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Gina Nam Kyung A. Lee Soo Jung Kim Kwan Young Oh Sunghee Lee Hyun Chul Lee So Yoon Kim Mi Hye Park |
| author_facet | Gina Nam Kyung A. Lee Soo Jung Kim Kwan Young Oh Sunghee Lee Hyun Chul Lee So Yoon Kim Mi Hye Park |
| author_sort | Gina Nam |
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| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a significant public health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although studies have suggested that microbial factors in vaginal microbiota (VMB) influence PTB, longitudinal research on Korean women is limited. This study aimed to analyze VMB differences between term and preterm pregnancies in Korean women and their correlation with the cervical length (CL). <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cohort of 60 pregnant Korean women (40 who had a term birth (TB) and 20 who had a PTB) was recruited. Vaginal samples were collected at five time points (first, second, and third trimester; 1–2 weeks postpartum; 1–2 months postpartum). Microbial DNA was extracted and analyzed using quantitative PCR targeting 12 bacterial species. The CL was measured in the second and third trimesters. <i>Results</i>: <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> was consistently dominant in the TB group, whereas PTB cases exhibited greater microbial diversity with elevated levels of <i>Prevotella salivae</i> and <i>Ureaplasma</i> species. The CL was significantly shorter in PTB cases, correlating with shifts in the VMB composition. <i>Conclusions</i>: A stable, <i>Lactobacillus</i>-dominant microbiome is protective in pregnancy, while increased diversity in PTB cases suggests microbial biomarkers for early risk prediction. Combining VMB profiling with CL measurement may enhance early, non-invasive PTB risk assessments. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-82bed0a18cf04ec4bf2c14298be41b5e2025-08-20T03:13:52ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-04-0161475210.3390/medicina61040752A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean WomenGina Nam0Kyung A. Lee1Soo Jung Kim2Kwan Young Oh3Sunghee Lee4Hyun Chul Lee5So Yoon Kim6Mi Hye Park7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul 06973, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Center, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul 07804, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Center, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul 07804, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon 35233, Republic of KoreaDaygen Inc., Seoul 06739, Republic of KoreaResearch Center, D&P Biotech Inc., Seoul 05855, Republic of KoreaResearch Center, D&P Biotech Inc., Seoul 05855, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Center, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a significant public health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although studies have suggested that microbial factors in vaginal microbiota (VMB) influence PTB, longitudinal research on Korean women is limited. This study aimed to analyze VMB differences between term and preterm pregnancies in Korean women and their correlation with the cervical length (CL). <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cohort of 60 pregnant Korean women (40 who had a term birth (TB) and 20 who had a PTB) was recruited. Vaginal samples were collected at five time points (first, second, and third trimester; 1–2 weeks postpartum; 1–2 months postpartum). Microbial DNA was extracted and analyzed using quantitative PCR targeting 12 bacterial species. The CL was measured in the second and third trimesters. <i>Results</i>: <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> was consistently dominant in the TB group, whereas PTB cases exhibited greater microbial diversity with elevated levels of <i>Prevotella salivae</i> and <i>Ureaplasma</i> species. The CL was significantly shorter in PTB cases, correlating with shifts in the VMB composition. <i>Conclusions</i>: A stable, <i>Lactobacillus</i>-dominant microbiome is protective in pregnancy, while increased diversity in PTB cases suggests microbial biomarkers for early risk prediction. Combining VMB profiling with CL measurement may enhance early, non-invasive PTB risk assessments.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/4/752vaginal microbiotapreterm birthcervical lengthlongitudinal study |
| spellingShingle | Gina Nam Kyung A. Lee Soo Jung Kim Kwan Young Oh Sunghee Lee Hyun Chul Lee So Yoon Kim Mi Hye Park A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women Medicina vaginal microbiota preterm birth cervical length longitudinal study |
| title | A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women |
| title_full | A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women |
| title_fullStr | A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women |
| title_short | A Comparative Longitudinal Study Analyzing Vaginal Microbiota Differences Between Term and Preterm Pregnancies in Korean Women |
| title_sort | comparative longitudinal study analyzing vaginal microbiota differences between term and preterm pregnancies in korean women |
| topic | vaginal microbiota preterm birth cervical length longitudinal study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/4/752 |
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