title: The Human Ureaplasma Species as Causative Agents of Chorioamnionitis.
abstract: The human Ureaplasma species are the most frequently isolated microorganisms from the amniotic fluid and placentae of women who deliver preterm and are also associated with spontaneous abortions or miscarriages, neonatal respiratory diseases, and chorioamnionitis. Despite the fact that these microorganisms have been habitually found within placentae of pregnancies with chorioamnionitis, the role of Ureaplasma species as a causative agent has not been satisfactorily explained. There is also controversy surrounding their role in disease, particularly as not all women infected with Ureaplasma spp. develop chorioamnionitis. In this review, we provide evidence that Ureaplasma spp. are associated with diseases of pregnancy and discuss recent findings which demonstrate that Ureaplasma spp. are associated with chorioamnionitis, regardless of gestational age at the time of delivery. Here, we also discuss the proposed major virulence factors of Ureaplasma spp., with a focus on the multiple-banded antigen (MBA), which may facilitate modulation/alteration of the host immune response and potentially explain why only subpopulations of infected women experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. The information presented within this review confirms that Ureaplasma spp. are not simply "innocent bystanders" in disease and highlights that these microorganisms are an often underestimated pathogen of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia samantha.dando@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5119-1711
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dando
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, the Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Suhas G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kallapur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Knox
mesh_terms: D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Ureaplasma; amniotic fluid; chorioamnionitis; multiple-banded antigen; neonate/fetus; pregnancy; virulence factors