Ascending #VaginalInfection Using #Bioluminescent #Bacteria Evokes #Intrauterine Inflammation, #PretermBirth, and #NeonatalBrainInjury in #Pregnant Mice.

Suff N¹, Karda R², Diaz JA², Ng J², Baruteau J³, Perocheau D², Tangney M⁴, Taylor PW⁵, Peebles D⁶, Buckley SMK⁷, Waddington SN⁸.

Abstract

Preterm birth is a serious global #health problem, being the leading cause of death in #infants under five years of age. At least 40% of cases are associated with #infection. It is thought that the most common way for #pathogens to access the #uterinecavity is by ascending from the #vagina. Bioluminescent pathogens have revolutionized the understanding of #infectiousdiseases. We hypothesized that bioluminescent E. coli can be used to track and monitor ascending vaginal infection in pregnant mice. Two different strains of bioluminescent E. coli were studied; E. coli K12 MG1655-lux, a non-pathogenic laboratory strain, and E. coli K1 A192PP-lux2, a pathogenic strain capable of causing #neonatalmeningitis and sepsis in neonatal rats.