Vaginal, Placental and Neonatal Buccal Mycobiota and Microbiome in Preterm Birth

June 1, 2021 updated by: Koç University

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Vaginal, Placental and Neonatal Mycobiota and Microbiome With Preterm Birth in Women With Short Cervical Length

Microbiota contributes to the immunological, hormonal and metabolic homeostasis of the host. As in all natural orifices in the body, there is also a microbiota and mycobiota specific to the vagina.

On the other hand, the sonographic short cervix in the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with preterm delivery, which may be an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the neonatal period. American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), British Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) and the American Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) suggest that the measurement of transvaginal sonographic cervical length at 20-24 gestational weeks for the screening of preterm birth. The aforementioned associations also recommend the use of progesterone in the treatment of women who diagnosed with short cervix by transvaginal ultrasonography due to the fact that progesterone is an effective medication in the prevention of preterm birth (Grade B).

Previous vaginal microbiota studies have shown that some bacterial species such as Lactobacillus insers cause a predisposition to premature labor in women with a short cervix. However, the prominent lack in these studies is that the eukaryotic fungi in abundant vaginal flora have not been evaluated.

On the other hand, it was already shown that progesterone treatment is able to prevent only 45% preterm birth in women with short cervical length. This observational prospective study thus aims to evaluate the variety of microbiota and/or mycobiota in pregnancies resulting in preterm birth and those who give birth at term. Although women with short cervical length receive progesterone regularly from the second trimester, the preterm birth may occur. In this study, the investigators also aim to evaluate the patterns of microbiota and mycobiota from vaginal swabs of women who had preterm birth with short cervical length and postpartum swabs of the placenta and fetal oral cavity.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Preterm birth is responsible for more than 70% of all neonatal and infant deaths. In addition, the risk of cerebral palsy among children born preterm is 10 times than those born at term. The risk of preterm birth is inversely related to cervical length at midgestation. Randomized-controlled trials involving singleton pregnancies with a short cervical length ( less than 25 mm) have shown that the prophylactic use of progesterone significantly decrease the rate of preterm delivery and neonatal death. The relation of vaginal micobiota with preterm birth has been documented. Yet, impact of short cervical lenght and progesteron treatment on vaginal, neonatal and placental microbiota and mycobiota has not been evaluated. The objectives of present study are to adress the following points;

  1. Longitudinal maternal (vaginal), fetal (oral) and placental (basal plate and parenchyma) 16S-based and 18S-based metagenomic profiling with inferred metagenomics will reveal distinct microbial communities in association with preterm birth.
  2. Comparison of vaginal, neonatal (buccal) and placental (basal plate and parenchyma) 16s rRNA with bacteria and 18s rRNA with fungi in pregnant women with a short cervical length with those with normal cervical length;

2. Comparison of maternal (vaginal), neonatal(oral) and placental (basal plate and parenchyma)16s rRNA with bacteria and 18s rRNA with fungi in pregnant women with short cervical length who gave a preterm birth with those who gave birth at term; 3. The effect of progesterone on maternal (vaginal), neonatal (buccal) and placental (basal plate and parenchyma)16s rRNA with bacteria and 18s rRNA with fungi.

The measurements of cervical length will be performed in two different periods of pregnancy (11-14 and 18-22 weeks of gestation) in singleton pregnancies. Firstly, the vaginal swabs will be collected from women who accept to participate in the study at 11-14th weeks of gestation just before the measurement of cervical length. Also, the vaginal swabs will be done again at 18-22 weeks of gestation as explained above. Micronized progesterone will be started in women with a cervical length equal or less than 25 mm (smaller than 3rd percentile) at 18-22 weeks of gestation. The medication (progesterone 200mg) will be administered intravaginally every night before bedtime and will continue until 36th gestational week unless the patient gives birth. Measurement of cervical length will be repeated transvaginally at 28th and 32nd gestational weeks, and samples will be obtained with a cervical swab before these measurements. In order to evaluate the presence of placental mycobiota and microbiota, 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm of the tissue sample from the placenta that is 3 cm lateral of the cord insertion will be taken under sterile conditions after birth. In order to evaluate the amniotic compartment, a buccal mucosal swab will be collected from the neonates immediately after birth. All samples will be delivered to our Research Laboratory immediately and stored in -80 ℃ cabinet until the evaluation. The V3-V4 regions by the 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing method will be sequenced with the Illumina MiSeq device and the data will be analyzed according to the protocols standardized in the Human Microbiome Project.

DNA samples that will be ranked from the data to be sequenced in accordance with the ITS1 region metabiota protocol will be evaluated within the Human Microbiome Project.

Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Neisseria, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Candida, Actinomyces will be used as positive controls and, V3-V4 and ITS regions will be matched for bacterial microbiota and Fungal microbiota. After the "Operational taxonomic units" of the amplicons are configured with the VSEARCH program, the analyzes will be carried out with GENBANK microbiota and micobiota data.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

92

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Ebru Celik, M.D.
  • Phone Number: 21654 +90 850 250 8 250
  • Email: ecelik@ku.edu.tr

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women attending prenatal clinics of Koc University Hospital in Istanbul.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Singleton pregnancies
  • The subject has voluntarily signed the Informed Consent Form and associated forms after having the contents explained

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Multiple pregnancies
  • The presence of a major fetal anomaly or known chromosomal abnormality
  • Finding the intrauterine mort de fetus
  • Antibiotic and/or antifungal use within two weeks at the collection of samples
  • Pregnant women under 18 years of age
  • Women with previous cervical surgery
  • Women who do not accept to participate to be in the study
  • The presence of a uterine anomaly
  • Women with vaginal bleeding at the time of cervical swabs taken

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Term Birth
Delivery between 37-41 weeks of gestation
Diagnostic test: Collection of vaginal, neonatal buccal and placental samples
Analysis of microbiome and mycobiota of vaginal, neonatal buccal and placental
Preterm birth
Delivery between 24-37 weeks of gestation
Diagnostic test: Collection of vaginal, neonatal buccal and placental samples
Analysis of microbiome and mycobiota of vaginal, neonatal buccal and placental

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Characterization of Maternal-Fetal microbiome and mycobiome
Time Frame: 11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery
Characterize the maternal(vaginal), placental, and neonatal (buccal) microbiome and mycobiome in a cohort at risk of preterm birth by using the BIO Power Soil DNA Isolation kit. The investigators will able to evaluate whether there is an association between microbiome and mycobiome changes with preterm birth. The V3-V4 regions by the 16s rRNA and ITS regions by 18s rRNA sequencing method will be sequenced. After the "Operational taxonomic units" of the amplicons are configured with the VSEARCH program, the analyzes will be carried out with GENBANK microbiota and micobiota data.
11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The effect of progesterone on maternal microbiome (vaginal and placenta) with progesterone
Time Frame: 11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery
Characterize the maternal, placental, and neonatal microbiome in a cohort at risk of preterm birth who receive progesterone treatment. Not all the women will ultimately deliver at term despite of prophylactic management of progesterone; the investigators will be able to see if there are microbiome changes associated with preterm birth by using the BIO Power Soil DNA Isolation kit. We will able to evaluate whether there is an association between microbiome and mycobiome changes with preterm birth. The V3-V4 regions by the 16s rRNA and ITS regions by 18s rRNA sequencing method will be sequenced. After the "Operational taxonomic units" of the amplicons are configured with the VSEARCH program, the analyzes will be carried out with GENBANK microbiota and micobiota data.
11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery
Variety of microbial and mycobial fingerprintings
Time Frame: 11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery
Comparison of vaginal, neonatal buccal and placental 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing between women with a short cervix who give a preterm birth with those who deliver at term.
11 weeks of gestation to date of delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Koç University

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Investigators

  • Study Director: Ebru Celik, M.D., Koç University
  • Study Director: Fusun Can, M.D., Koc University School of Medicine
  • Principal Investigator: Mert Turgal, M.D., Koc University School of Medicine
  • Principal Investigator: Ozlem Dogan, M.D., Koc University School of Medicine
  • Principal Investigator: Mehmet Gonen, P.h.D, Koc University School of Medicine
  • Principal Investigator: Tugba Gursoy, M.D., Koc University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2020

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2021

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 14, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 13, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

November 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 2, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 1, 2021

Last Verified

March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 119S463

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

IPD Plan Description

The recruitment of participants will begin on November 2019 and the anticipated date for the completion of the study is November 2022.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The data will be available for 5 years

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The researchers who are responsible for the recruitment of patients will have access code. The web address will be ready in November 2019 and the researcher will have a personal ID and password to enter the participants' data.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • Study Protocol
  • Informed Consent Form (ICF)
  • Clinical Study Report (CSR)
  • Analytic Code

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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