Background Numerous reports have documented bacteria in the placental membranes and
basal plate decidua in the absence of immunopathology using histologic techniques.
Similarly, independent metagenomic characterizations have identified an altered taxonomic
makeup in association with spontaneous preterm birth. Here we sought to corroborate these
findings by localizing presumptive intact bacteria using molecular histology within the
placental microanatomy. Objective Here we examined for microbes in term and preterm …