Protocol for a human placental explant model to study acute responses to pathogens

Elias R. Ruiz-Morales, Regina Hoo, Ross F. Waller, Marcus C.S. Lee, David Fernandez-Antoran , Iva Kelava , Roser Vento-Tormo

STAR protocols Volume 6, Issue 4, 19 December 2025, 104097

online 17 September 2025

Summary
Here, we present a protocol for studying infections caused by pathogens associated with intrauterine complications—Listeria monocytogenes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii—using an ex vivo placental explant model. We describe procedures for pathogen culture, preparation of placental explants using an air-liquid interface system, and infection assays. We detail procedures for tissue dissociation and CD45+ cell enrichment. This protocol allows short-term placental infection studies.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hoo et al.

R. Hoo, E.R. Ruiz-Morales, I. Kelava, M. Rawat, C.I. Mazzeo, E. Tuck, C. Sancho-Serra, S. Chelaghma, A.V. Predeus, S. Murray, et al.
Acute response to pathogens in the early human placenta at single-cell resolution
Cell Syst., 15 (2024), pp. 425-444.e9