title: Microarray-based identification of clinically relevant vaginal bacteria in relation to bacterial vaginosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to examine the use of a tailor-made DNA microarray containing probes representing the vaginal microbiota to examine bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred one women attending a health center for HIV testing in South Africa were enrolled. Stained, liquid-based cytology slides were scored for bacterial vaginosis. An inventory of organisms was obtained using microarray technology, probing genera associated with bacterial vaginosis in more detail, namely Gardnerella, Atopobium, Dialister, Leptotrichia, Megasphaera, Mobiluncus, Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, and Sneathia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 101 women, 34 were diagnosed positive for bacterial vaginosis. This condition was associated with an increased microbial diversity. It is no longer useful to base the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis on Gardnerella alone. Rather, its presence with Leptotrichia and Prevotella species, and especially Atopobium was more indicative of an aberrant state of the vaginal flora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To understand the vaginal microbiota in more detail, microarray-based identification can be used after microscopic scoring.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joke A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dols
authors.forename: Pieter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kort
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Frank H J
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Schuren
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tempelman
authors.forename: Tj Romke
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Bontekoe
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korporaal
authors.forename: Mathilde E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boon
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013019:South Africa; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial