Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is a common infectious disorder. Although known since ancient times, little progress has occurred in identifying causal factors . Our aims were to study the bacterial community structure...Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is a common infectious disorder. Although known since ancient times, little progress has occurred in identifying causal factors . Our aims were to study the bacterial community structure and the spatial organ ization of microbiota on the epithelial surfaces of vaginal biopsy specimens. ME THODS:We investigated the composition and spatial organization of bacteria assoc iated with the vaginal epithelium in biopsy specimens from 20 patients with bact erial vaginosis and 40 normal premenopausal and postmenopausal controls using a broad range of fluorescent bacterial group-specific rRNA-targeted oligonucleot ide probes. RESULTS: Bacterial vaginosis was associated with greater occurrence and higher concentrations of a variety of bacterial groups. However, only Gardne rella vaginalis developed a characteristic adherent biofilm that was specific fo r bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION: A biofilm comprised of confluent G vaginalis with other bacterial groups incorporated in the adherent layer is a prominent fe ature of bacterial vaginosis.展开更多
文摘Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is a common infectious disorder. Although known since ancient times, little progress has occurred in identifying causal factors . Our aims were to study the bacterial community structure and the spatial organ ization of microbiota on the epithelial surfaces of vaginal biopsy specimens. ME THODS:We investigated the composition and spatial organization of bacteria assoc iated with the vaginal epithelium in biopsy specimens from 20 patients with bact erial vaginosis and 40 normal premenopausal and postmenopausal controls using a broad range of fluorescent bacterial group-specific rRNA-targeted oligonucleot ide probes. RESULTS: Bacterial vaginosis was associated with greater occurrence and higher concentrations of a variety of bacterial groups. However, only Gardne rella vaginalis developed a characteristic adherent biofilm that was specific fo r bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION: A biofilm comprised of confluent G vaginalis with other bacterial groups incorporated in the adherent layer is a prominent fe ature of bacterial vaginosis.
