Thermogelling PLGA-PEG-PLGA used in developing a research tool to further understand ascending vaginal infections

 

Pre-term birth is commonly associated with bacterial infections in the vaginal tract which lead to inflammation and damage to both mother and fetus. Researchers at University College London, King’s College London, and Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (South Africa), used PLGA-PEG-PLGA (Cat# AK012) thermogel from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) as part of developing a mouse-based disease model of ascending vaginal infection. This research provides a valuable tool to further evaluate therapeutic techniques against this common neonatal complication. Read more: Boyle, Ashley K., Konstantina Tetorou, Natalie Suff, Laura Beecroft, Margherita Mazzaschi, Mariya Hristova, Simon N. Waddington, and Donald Peebles. "Ascending vaginal infection in mice induces preterm birth and neonatal morbidity." bioRxiv (2023): 2023-08. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.14.553220.abstract

“Abstract: Preterm birth (PTB; delivery <37 weeks), the main cause of neonatal death worldwide, can lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as lung and gut pathology. PTB is commonly associated with ascending vaginal infection. Previously, we have shown that ascending E. coli infection in pregnant mice induces PTB and reduces pup survival. Here, we demonstrate that this model recapitulates the pathology observed in human preterm neonates, namely neuroinflammation, lung injury and gut inflammation. In neonatal brains, there is widespread cell death, microglial activation, astrogliosis and reduced neuronal density. We also validate the utility of this model by assessing efficacy of maternal cervical gene therapy with an adeno-associated viral vector containing human beta defensin 3; this improves pup survival and reduces Tnfα mRNA expression in perinatal pup brains exposed to E. coli. This model provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of preterm labour interventions on perinatal pathology.”