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In utero colonization or deposition of beneficial microorganisms and their by-products likely occurs through various mechanisms, such as hematogenous spread or ascension from the reproductive tract. With high-throughput sequencing techniques, the identification of microbial components in first-pass neonatal meconium has been achieved. While these components are low-biomass and often not abundant enough to culture, the presence of microbial DNA signatures may promote fetal immune tolerance or epigenetic regulation prior to birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal source of the neonatal first-pass meconium microbiome. Maternal vaginal and anal samples collected from twenty-one maternal–infant dyad pairs were compared via principal component analysis to first-pass neonatal meconium microbial compositions. Results demonstrated the greatest degree of similarity between the maternal gut microbiome in the second and third trimesters and vaginal microbiome samples across pregnancy, suggesting that the maternal gut microbiota may translocate to the fetal gut during pregnancy. This study sheds light on the origin and timing of the potential transfer of maternal microbial species to offspring in utero.

Objective: Bisphenol A and phthalate are known endocrine disruptors and capable of inducing epigenetic changes in the human population. However, their impact on the placenta is less well studied. Our objective was to measure the effect of exposure to bisphenol A and benzyl butyl phthalate in first-trimester HTR8-SVneo and third-trimester 3A-sub E trophoblast cells by profiling the DNA methylation pattern of the imprinting control region of the IGF2 (insulin-like growth factor) and H19 genes. Methods: Human placental HTR8-SVneo and 3A-sub E cell lines were treated with two sub-lethal concentrations of bisphenol A and benzyl butyl phthalate. Demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, was used as a positive control. Cells were harvested on post-treatment days 1 and 4. The methylation profile of six CpG dinucleotide sites, part of the CTCF 6 binding site of the IGF2/H19 imprinting control region, was determined by pyrosequencing. Results: In the first-trimester HTR8-SVneo cell line, we observed a significant increased methylation of the CpG sites 3, 4 when treated with a high concentration of bisphenol A or benzyl butyl phthalate while increased methylation at site 6 for both high and low dose treatment on day 4. Demethylation of the CpG sites 1, 4, and 6 was observed when treated with 5-azacytidine on day 4. In the third-trimester 3A-sub E cell line, no significant changes in the methylation profile were observed under any treatment conditions. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the capability of epigenetic changes in human placenta cells induced by bisphenol A and benzyl butyl phthalate. The observed methylation changes only in the first-trimester HTR8-SVneo cells phthalate may reflect a window of epigenetic susceptibility related to these environmental toxicants.

Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the temporal exposures to plastic pollution in Hawaiʻi and noted a significant increase in the accumulation of microplastics in discarded placentas over the past 15 years, with changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers. These findings provide a rare insight into the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Island residents to plastic pollution and illustrate how discarded human tissues can be used as an innovative environmental plastic pollution monitoring system.

Abstract Background Consumption of a diet with high adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) has been associated with a favorable gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome. A healthy GIT microbiome in pregnancy, as defined by increased alpha diversity, is associated with lower chance of adverse perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of adherence to an MDP on GIT microbial diversity longitudinally throughout pregnancy. Methods Adherence to MDP was scored by the Alternate Mediterranean (aMED) Diet Quality Score, after being applied to a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Association of aMED Scores with GIT alpha diversity profiles were compared linearly and across time using a linear mixed model, including covariates of age, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and parity. Results Forty-one participants of Filipino, Japanese, Native Hawaiian, and Non-Hispanic White descent provided dietary information and microbiome samples during each trimester of pregnancy. Alpha diversity profiles changed over gestation, with decreased microbial diversity in the third trimester. aMED scores positively correlated with Chao1 Index and Observed Species Number (r = 0.244, p = 0.017, and r = 0.233, p = 0.023, respectively). The strongest association was detected in the third trimester (Chao 1: r = 0.43, p = 0.020, Observed Species Number: r = 0.41, p = 0.026). Participants with higher aMED scores had higher relative abundance of Acidaminoacaeae at the family level (p = 0.0169), as well as higher abundance of several species known to increase production of short chain fatty acids within the GIT. Conclusions Adherence to MDP pattern is associated with increased maternal GIT microbial diversity, and promotes the abundance of bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids. Increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes with low red meat consumption were key components driving this association. The effect of nutrition however, was less of an effect than pregnancy itself. Further studies are needed to determine if adherence to a Mediterranean diet translates not only into microbial health, but also into reduced risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.