Gardnerella vaginalis enhances Atopobium vaginae viability in vitro

Abstract

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a clinical condition characterized by a dramatic shift in the vaginal microflora from the beneficial lactobacilli to a polymicrobial flora, consisting of strictly and facultatively anaerobic bacteria. It is noteworthy that a hallmark of BV is the presence of a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium, presumably initiated by a facultative anaerobe, Gardnerella vaginalis, which then become a scaffold for other species to adhere. While not much is known about multi- species interactions within BV biofilms, Atopobium vaginae is often associated with G. vaginalis biofilms and is rarely detected without G. vaginalis.