Effect of Sneathia vaginalis on the amnion

Sneathia vaginalis (Sv) is emerging as a pathogen that is significantly associated with preterm birth and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Due to its fastidious nature, it has only recently been recognized as a pathogen through the use of DNA-based methods. Because it has historically been under-recognized, the biology and the pathogenesis of S. vaginalis remain almost entirely uncharacterized. We have substantial evidence supporting that S. vaginalis damages host tissues, and damage to the amnion could play a causative role in preterm premature rupture of membranes. The goal of this application is to lay the foundation to characterize the damage that S. vaginalis causes to the cellular and acellular components of amnion and the effect that it has on the mechanical properties of amnion as a whole. To achieve this goal, we will delineate the time and dose dependance of damage inflicted by S. vaginalis on mitochondria and microtubules and define the type of cell death that exposure to the bacteria causes in Aim 1. In Aim 2, we will perform proteomics on proteins released from untreated and S. vaginalis-treated amnion to detect changes both in proteins secreted by the cellular components of amnion as well as changes in the integrity of the extracellular matrix components of the amnion. In Aim 3, we will quantitatively assess the mechanical properties of amnion and the effects that S. vaginalis has on those properties. Project Number: 1R21AI188075-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) | Principal Investigator: KIMBERLY JEFFERSON (+1 co-PI) | Institution: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA | Award Amount: $404,273 | Activity Code: R21 | Study Section: Bacterial Virulence Study Section [BV] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/1R21AI18807501A1