Transfer of Strictly Anaerobe Microbes From Mother to Child

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to investigate the changes in the microbiota at different body sites in late pregnancy, in comparison with non-pregnant women, with particular emphasis on archaea, and to identify possible maternal-to-child transfer routes for acquisition of strictly anaerobic microorganisms by analyzing the gut microbiota of new born infants (delivered vaginally or by C-section).

Detailed Description
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The investigators hypothesize that changes occur in the microbial community during pregnancy in different body sites (vagina, oral etc.) and that the main source of these microorganisms is the mother for vaginally born infants, while C-section born infants acquire most of the anaerobic microbial communities from other sources rather than mother's vaginal and gut microbiota, such as the environment. Specific Research Objectives will be: To investigate diversity of archaea in the vagina of healthy women in the context with community state types (CSTs), and compare vaginal microbiome in pregnant with non-pregnant healthy women. To identify the presence of archaea in different body sites (oral, gut) or body fluids (amniotic fluid, urine, human milk) within the perinatal microbial communities. To investigate the presence of archaea in the infant's first-days-of-life intestinal community, and to identify the sources of these microorganisms by using source tracking approach. To investigate Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in maternal (serum, saliva, urine, breast milk) or intrauterine sources (amniotic fluid) as potential modifiers of the microbial communities in these sites. To analyze associations of maternal/ intrauterine HMOs with infant HMOs and microbiota (meconium and infant stool) in order to investigate vertical transmission of microbiota to the infant.

Official Title
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Transfer of Strictly Anaerobe Microbes From Mother to Child - a Pilot Study

Conditions
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Microbial Colonization

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: healthy women pregnant women: delivery at term (gestational age 37-42); contractions or rupture of membrane no longer than 12h before admission to hospital Exclusion Criteria: bacterial/ fungal infections use of antibiotics/ probiotics in past 3 months fetal anomalies multiple pregnancies diabetes type 1, 2, gestational diabetes hypertension, preeclampsia/HELLP HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus), HCV (Hepatitis C) drug abuse, smoking

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| non-pregnant women<br>Samples will be collected from 30 healthy, non-pregnant women in the reproductive age: blood, urine, stool, saliva, oral swabs, vaginal swabs | |
| pregnant women delivering vaginally<br>From 30 healthy, pregnant women giving vaginal birth, samples will be collected shortly before, during and after birth from maternal and newborn sites: maternal blood, urine, stool, saliva, oral swabs, vaginal swabs; cord blood, colostrum, meconium, infant oral swabs | |
| pregnant women undergoing C-section<br>From 30 healthy, pregnant women giving vaginal birth, samples will be collected shortly before, during and after birth from maternal and newborn sites: maternal blood, urine, stool, saliva, oral swabs, vaginal swabs; amniotic fluid, cord blood, colostrum, meconium, infant oral swabs | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| maternal microbiome | difference between non-pregnant and pregnant women | 2020-2023 | 
| fetal/neonatal microbiome | difference between vaginal and C-section born infants | 2020-2023 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Human milk oligosaccharides | associations of HMOs with maternal/infant microbiome | 2020-2023 |