Microbes in Obstetrics: Current Importance of Ascending Bacterial Infection (ABI)
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 317
Editors
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
Interests: infections in obstetrics: ascending bacterial infection (ABI); vaginal and urinary microbiota in normal pregnancy and in pregnancies affected by ABI; spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) before 34 weeks due to ABI; perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity due to ABI; obesity and psychosocial stress as risk factors for ABI; cerclage and modulation of the immune response in pregnancies susceptible to ABI; STIs and pregnancy; periodontal disease and pregnancy; infections in gynecology: genital infections; pelvic inflammatory disease; pelvic actinomycosis; genitourinary infections in menopause; vaginal and urinary microbiota in reproductive age and in menopause
Interests: preeclampsia; medical genetics; obstetrics; maternal health; fetal growth restriction; obstetric delivery; gynaecological surgery; prenatal care; prenatal diagnosis; hematologic diseases
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ascending Bacterial Infection (ABI) is the leading cause of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks. Its origin lies in vaginal dysbiosis, the loss of protective Lactobacillus and predominance of anaerobes, which triggers an inflammatory cascade of cytokines and metalloproteinases that degrade the cervical matrix. Pathogens such as S agalactiae and E.coli facilitate intra-amniotic invasion and Fetal Inflammatory Response Syndrome (FIRS), resulting in perinatal mortality, severe neonatal morbidity, and irreversible long-term sequelae.
Global management requires early detection through markers like IL-6 or MMP-8 and microbiome stabilization via interventions such as cerclage. It is imperative to integrate Immunology and Microbiomics to understand how high-risk community persistence (CST IV) and immune hyperactivation, especially in vulnerable populations facing obesity and psychosocial stress, ensure progression toward adverse outcomes, even after bacterial load reduction. This multidisciplinary approach is essential for developing therapies targeting both the pathogen and the maternal–fetal inflammatory response.
Dr. Alfredo Ovalle
Prof. Dr. Enrique Oyarzun
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- ascending bacterial infection (ABI)
- vaginal dysbiosis
- spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB)
- group B streptococcus (GBS)
- fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS)
- microbiomics
- maternal immunology
- cervical insufficiency
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