Temporal and Spatial Variation of the Human Microbiota During Pregnancy

We conducted a longitudinal study of the human microbiota at multiple body sites during and after pregnancy. Clinical sampling was performed weekly during gestation, and monthly post-delivery for up to one year, at four body sites: vagina, distal gut, saliva and tooth/gum. Analysis was based on 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. A case-control study design was used to compare features of the microbiota in women who delivered preterm (cases) with those of women who delivered at term (controls).

本研究针对妊娠期间及产后的多部位人体微生物群（human microbiota）开展了一项纵向研究。研究共设置4个采样部位：阴道、远端肠道、唾液及牙齿/牙龈；妊娠期内每周开展临床采样，分娩后每月采样1次，随访时长最长达1年。本研究的分析基于16S rDNA扩增子测序技术完成，并采用病例对照研究（case-control study）设计，对比早产分娩产妇（病例组）与足月分娩产妇（对照组）的微生物群特征。