The microbiota of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 and their infants
Heidi K. Leftwich,
Daniela Vargas-Robles,
Mayra Rojas-Correa,
Yan Rou Yap,
Shakti Bhattarai,
Doyle V. Ward,
Gavin Fujimori,
Catherine S. Forconi,
Tracy Yeboah,
Acara Carter,
Alyssa Kastrinakis,
Alison M. Asirwatham,
Vanni Bucci,
Ann M. Moormann,
Ana Maldonado-Contreras
Affiliations
Heidi K. Leftwich
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Daniela Vargas-Robles
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Mayra Rojas-Correa
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Yan Rou Yap
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Shakti Bhattarai
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Doyle V. Ward
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Gavin Fujimori
Department of Medicine. Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Catherine S. Forconi
Department of Medicine. Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Tracy Yeboah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Acara Carter
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Alyssa Kastrinakis
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Alison M. Asirwatham
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Vanni Bucci
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Ann M. Moormann
Department of Medicine. Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Ana Maldonado-Contreras
Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, Program of Microbiome Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Abstract Background Infants receive their first bacteria from their birthing parent. This newly acquired microbiome plays a pivotal role in developing a robust immune system, the cornerstone of long-term health. Results We demonstrated that the gut, vaginal, and oral microbial diversity of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection is reduced, and women with early infections exhibit a different vaginal microbiota composition at the time of delivery compared to their healthy control counterparts. Accordingly, a low relative abundance of two Streptococcus sequence variants (SV) was predictive of infants born to pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy, particularly early infections, are associated with lasting changes in the microbiome of pregnant women, compromising the initial microbial seed of their infant. Our results highlight the importance of further exploring the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the infant’s microbiome-dependent immune programming. Video Abstract
