Open AccessRole of MUC5B during Group B Streptococcal Vaginal Colonization
Author(s) -
Lindsey R. Burcham,
Jade R. Bath,
Caroline Werlang,
Laurie M Lyon,
Naoko Liu,
Christopher M. Evans,
Katharina Ribbeck,
Kelly S. Doran
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
mbio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.562
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 2161-2129
pISSN - 2150-7511
DOI - 10.1128/mbio.00039-22
Subject(s) - mucin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , group b , vagina , colonization , glycoprotein , immunology , streptococcus agalactiae , streptococcus , medicine , bacteria , genetics , biochemistry
Mucin glycoproteins are a major component that contributes to the complexity of the female reproductive tract (FRT). Group BStreptococcus (GBS) is present in the FRT of 25–30% of healthy women, but during pregnancy can ascend to the uterus to cause preterm birth and fetal infectionin utero. Here we show that a prominent mucin found in the FRT, MUC5B, promotes host defense by inhibiting GBS interaction with epithelial cells found in the FRT and ascension from the vagina to the uterusin vivo .