Early pregnancy gut microbiome predicts preterm birth

Biomarkers for early risk prediction of preterm birth is still lacking.

The researchers analyzed maternal gut microbiome in 5,313 Chinese pregnant women.  They demonstrated microbial risk scores (MRSs), generated from selected microbial genera or species, could effectively segregate pregnant women with shorter gestational duration and at higher preterm birth risk. 

They link early-pregnancy maternal gut microbiome to preterm birth, identifying Clostridium innocuum and its estradiol-degrading gene enriched in women with preterm birth.

C. innocuum degrades estradiol and interacts with host genetics to amplify risk.

These findings propose estradiol-degrading bacteria as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for preterm birth.

https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(25)00330-0

https://sciencemission.com/gut-microbiome--predicts-preterm-birth