How well does the reproductive tract manage infectious agents?

Excerpt

Learning to accommodate resident flora via an immunomodulatory détente is fast becoming a fundamental principle in the development and function of organ systems. And the ramifications of coping with host–pathogen interactions in the reproductive tract loom large in a world confronting the scourge of STDs superimposed upon our physiological microbiota—those organisms that have taken up residence in the reproductive tract across our lifespans. Given this, and the importance of the immune system in pregnancy recognition, efforts are ongoing to identify the underlying mechanisms of tolerance operative across the spectrum of human development. Teasing apart inherent benefits obtained by our resident microbiota relative to the demands imposed by maintaining term gestation remains a challenging task for scientists and clinicians alike. Further complicating matters are the pregnancy risks associated with infections in late stage gestations. …