Purpose
To investigate the effect of orally supplemented probiotic on term placental microbiota and provide possible evidences for clinical management of pregnant women.
Methods
A population-based cohort of specimens were collected from 37 healthy nulliparous pregnant women who underwent systemic examination. The pregnant women were divided randomly into probiotics group and control group. We collected placental specimens during spontaneous delivery at term. The placental samples were taken for analyzing microbiome with the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of V4 region.
Results
There were no significant differences between two groups in clinical characteristics. The placental microbiota from normal vaginal delivery were composed of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Ralstonia. The relative abundant of Prevotella_9, Faecalibacterium, and Escherichia_Shigella etc. in probiotic group was significantly higher than that control group(p<0.05). Probiotics supplementation could affect the network structure of placental microbiota.
Conclusions
The characteristics of the placental microbiome changed after probiotics supplementation and the network structure of interaction tended to be loose. The probiotic supplementation may be useful in regulating the interaction network of placental microbiota.