Antibacterial Activity of Human Cervical Mucus

Summary Samples of amniotic fluid obtained from 48 South Indian women in the third trimester of pregnancy were studied for antimicrobial activity. The growth of Staphylococcus albus, Candida albicans and Clostridium perfringens was inhibited by nearly all samples studied while the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis was inhibited by 50%, 42% and 18% of samples respectively. The growth of Streptococcus faecalis was not inhibited. Using radial immunodiffusion, IgG was measurable in all 10 samples studied (mean 23 mg/dl), whereas IgA was measurable in only three of these samples (mean 1.32 mg/dl). However, while specific IgA against C. albicans was detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 93% of samples, specific IgG against C. albicans was detected in only 26% of samples (P<0.001). Amniotic fluid obtained from parous women had greater inhibitory activity against E. coli (P<0.05) than did the amniotic fluid obtained from nulliparae.

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“…The trauma of repeated parturition makes the cervix patulous and infected. Cervical mucus has antimicrobial activity (Zuckerman et a/. 1975).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid in South Indian women

Mathai

Jairaj

Thangavelu

et al. 1984

BJOG

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“…Apparently, other factors than the presence of the microorganisms in the cervix determine postabortion infection. For instance the cervical mucus in non-pregnant women has been shown to exhibit antibacterial properties against aerobic bacteria (6,23). Similar studies of the mucous from pregnant women have not been performed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preoperative Cervical Microbial Flora and Post‐Abortion Infection

Moberg

Eneroth

Harlin

et al. 1978

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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With the aim to find criteria for the prediction of the patients who are at risk of developing a post-abortion infection the pretreatment cervical microbial flora was compared between one series of patients who developed and another series of patients who did not develop such an infection. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as mycoplasma and fungi, were studied in 104 patients. The distribution of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was similar in the 14 patients who later developed post-abortal infection and in uncomplicated cases. It is concluded that the cultivation of the cervical microbial flora cannot serve as a basis for the prediction of which patients will develop subsequent genital infections.

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“…Several studies have analyzed the immune factors responsible for the antimicrobial properties of cervical mucus in nonpregnant women. These include a variety of polypeptides with activity against a broad range of microorganisms (2)(3)(4)(5)(6), as well as immunoglobulins, mainly in the form of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and IgG (7)(8)(9)(10). Although the immune factors operating during pregnancy have also been studied (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), samples have been characterized in some studies as representing ''cervical mucus in pregnancy'' and in others as ''cervical mucus plug'' leading to difficulties in collective interpretation of results.…”

Section: Abbreviationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoglobulin levels and phagocytes in the cervical mucus plug at term of pregnancy

Hein,

Petersen,

Helmig

et al. 2005

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2005; 84: 734-742. # Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 84 2005Background. To characterize the potential for adaptive immune protection in cervical mucus plugs with respect to immunoglobulin isotypes and effector cells (phagocytes).Methods. Thirty-one cervical mucus plugs were collected from healthy women in labor at term. The cervical mucus plugs were allocated either to analysis of immunoglobulins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gel chromatography and Western blotting (n ¼ 20) or to microscopical, including immunocytochemical, analyses. The levels of immunoglobulin in the plugs were compared to the levels in 10 samples of ovulatory cervical mucus from nonpregnant women. Results. In the cervical mucus plugs, levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) [median 3270 mg/ mL (100-14 500)] and IgA [540 (22-2820)], but not IgM [30.5 (1.0-160)], were significantly elevated compared to cervical mucus from nonpregnant women (p < 0.02 for IgG and IgA). The IgG : IgA ratio in the plugs was also elevated (p < 0.02). The proportion of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) relative to total IgA in the plugs ranged from 16 to 65% (n ¼ 5). IgA and IgG were largely intact. Microscopically, the vagina-proximal part of the cervical mucus plugs contained bacteria and was rich in cells, mainly phagocytes. Conversely, the uterine part contained few cells. Conclusion. The high immunoglobulin levels in combination with the presence of phagocytes suggest a potential for adaptive immune defense in the cervical mucus plug, which, together with innate immune factors, may act as an immunological gatekeeper protecting the fetomaternal unit against infection from the vagina.

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Antibacterial Activity of Human Cervical Mucus

Cited by 7 publications

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Antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid in South Indian women

Antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid in South Indian women

Preoperative Cervical Microbial Flora and Post‐Abortion Infection

Immunoglobulin levels and phagocytes in the cervical mucus plug at term of pregnancy

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