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Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Han, YW; Redline, RW; Li, M; Yin, L; Hill, GB; McCormick, TS
Published in: Infect Immun
April 2004

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative anaerobe ubiquitous to the oral cavity. It is associated with periodontal disease. It is also associated with preterm birth and has been isolated from the amniotic fluid, placenta, and chorioamnionic membranes of women delivering prematurely. Periodontal disease is a newly recognized risk factor for preterm birth. This study examined the possible mechanism underlying the link between these two diseases. F. nucleatum strains isolated from amniotic fluids and placentas along with those isolated from orally related sources invaded both epithelial and endothelial cells. The invasive ability may enable F. nucleatum to colonize and infect the pregnant uterus. Transient bacteremia caused by periodontal infection may facilitate bacterial transmission from the oral cavity to the uterus. To test this hypothesis, we intravenously injected F. nucleatum into pregnant CF-1 mice. The injection resulted in premature delivery, stillbirths, and nonsustained live births. The bacterial infection was restricted inside the uterus, without spreading systemically. F. nucleatum was first detected in the blood vessels in murine placentas. Invasion of the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels was observed. The bacteria then crossed the endothelium, proliferated in surrounding tissues, and finally spread to the amniotic fluid. The pattern of infection paralleled that in humans. This study represents the first evidence that F. nucleatum may be transmitted hematogenously to the placenta and cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results strengthen the link between periodontal disease and preterm birth. Our study also indicates that invasion may be an important virulence mechanism for F. nucleatum to infect the placenta.

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Published In

Infect Immun

DOI

ISSN

0019-9567

Publication Date

April 2004

Volume

72

Issue

4

Start / End Page

2272 / 2279

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Uterus
  • Umbilical Veins
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Pregnancy
  • Placenta
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microbiology
  • Mice
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Han, Y. W., Redline, R. W., Li, M., Yin, L., Hill, G. B., & McCormick, T. S. (2004). Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth. Infect Immun, 72(4), 2272–2279. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.72.4.2272-2279.2004
Han, Yiping W., Raymond W. Redline, Mei Li, Lihong Yin, Gale B. Hill, and Thomas S. McCormick. “Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth.Infect Immun 72, no. 4 (April 2004): 2272–79. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.72.4.2272-2279.2004.
Han YW, Redline RW, Li M, Yin L, Hill GB, McCormick TS. Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth. Infect Immun. 2004 Apr;72(4):2272–9.
Han, Yiping W., et al. “Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth.Infect Immun, vol. 72, no. 4, Apr. 2004, pp. 2272–79. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/IAI.72.4.2272-2279.2004.
Han YW, Redline RW, Li M, Yin L, Hill GB, McCormick TS. Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth. Infect Immun. 2004 Apr;72(4):2272–2279.

Published In

Infect Immun

DOI

ISSN

0019-9567

Publication Date

April 2004

Volume

72

Issue

4

Start / End Page

2272 / 2279

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Uterus
  • Umbilical Veins
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Pregnancy
  • Placenta
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microbiology
  • Mice