Table 10 Metabolic pathways and sub-pathways of metabolites upregulated in preterm-delivered women and increased from GTP1 to GTP2 compared to term-delivered women

From: Vaginal host immune-microbiome-metabolite interactions associated with spontaneous preterm birth in a predominantly white cohort

Metabolic pathway

Sub-pathway

Metabolite

Interaction p-value

Function

Vitamins and cofactors

Pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis; Vitamin digestion and absorption; β-alanine metabolism; Biosynthesis of cofactors

Pantothenate

0.021

Oxidative stress and inflammation89,90,91

Amines

Arginine and proline metabolism; d-amino acid metabolism; Tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis; Biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from ornithine, lysine and nicotinic acid;

Glutathione metabolism; Protein digestion and absorption; ABC transporters

Putrescine

0.028

• Associated with dysbiosis and BV

• Cause the fishy smell of the vagina in BV38,53

Carbohydrates

Glycolysis; Citrate cycle; Phosphotransferase system (PTS); Biosynthesis of terpenoids and steroids; Biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from terpenoids and polyketide; Biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids; d-amino acid metabolism; Biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from histidine and purine; Microbial metabolism in diverse environments

Pyruvate

0.028

Intermediate for lactate or acetate production38,53

  1. p-value obtained by two-way ANOVA.
  2. BV bacterial vaginosis, GTP gestational time point: GTP1—20–22 weeks, GTP2—26–28 weeks.
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