Few obstetrical problems have been so persistently difficult and simultaneously so prevalent as premature birth, low birth weight, and their sequelae. Moreover, this problem is international in scope and impact. The pathogenesis and treatment of many cases remain inexplicable despite significant scientific advances in the areas of etiology, risk factors, and interventions. Idiopathic prematurity occurs in some industrialized countries in over 12% of pregnancies despite the availability of sophisticated technologies; but also it is a problem in developing areas of the globe where millions of deaths are attributed to preterm birth. Advances in neonate care have allowed for better survival of tiny babies where resources permit, but the financial costs are staggering and surviving infants often bear sequelae of their complicated beginnings.

The editors of this special issue believe that the accelerating pace of scientific discovery fueled by new technologies for discovery-based medicine, coupled with the sense of urgency shared by scientists and clinicians to apply new discoveries, makes this an opportune time to summarize some of the most important advances that are occurring in this field.

Submissions of articles in the following topical areas are invited but other related topics that may contribute to the discussion of premature birth are welcome:

• General concepts of the physiology and biochemistry of parturition and preterm birth and associated complications and sequelae with special emphases on infectious diseases
• International infectious disease epidemiology and ethnogeographical differences in microbial exposure in relation to premature birth
• Contributions of proteomics and genomics to the understanding of preterm labor related to infection
• The human microbiome: methods of study and implications for preterm birth
• The role of the immune system in prevention and etiology of premature birth related to infection
• Therapeutic interventions for infection related premature birth past, present, future
• Options for improving fetal and neonatal wellbeing
• Infectious disease complications of the premature baby and management options

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/idog/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: