Biomolecules · 2 authors, 2 centres
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This narrative review evaluates molecular techniques like metagenomics and metaproteomics for studying the placental microbiome. It concludes that while these methods detect microbial signals, they cannot distinguish living bacteria from dead fragments or contaminants, complicating interpretations of the placenta's role in pregnancy disorders.
This narrative review synthesizes methodologies and current evidence regarding the placental microbiome in pregnancy. It describes various 'omics' techniques, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics, used to analyze microbial communities in placental tissue, noting their advantages over culture-based methods but also their significant limitations. A central finding is that these methods cannot differentiate between living microorganisms, dead bacteria, and bacterial fragments or contamination, leading to positive 'bacteria' signals that may not reflect a true, metabolically active community. The review discusses evidence that the placental microbiome originates from the oral/gut route rather than the vagina and may be linked to disorders like fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. However, it heavily emphasizes the methodological challenges, such as contamination and the lack of standardized protocols, which make comparisons across studies difficult.
