Microbial interactions in bacterial vaginosis

Abstract

[Excerpt] Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age but its aetiology is not yet fully understood, with controversial theories being raised over the years. What is generally accepted is that BV is often characterized by a shift in the composition of the normal vaginal microbiota, changing from a Lactobacillus species dominated microbiota to a mixture of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. During BV, a polymicrobial biofilm develops in the vaginal microenvironment, being mainly composed of Gardnerella species. Considering current knowledge of BV, it is not possible to determine if the presence of multispecies biofilms is the cause or simply a consequence of BV. Nevertheless, the interactions between vaginal microorganisms are thought to play a pivotal role in the shift from health to disease and might also increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections acquisition. [...]