title: [Analysis of diversity of vaginal microbiota in healthy Chinese women by using  DNA-fingerprinting].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the diversity of healthy women's vaginal dominant flora in different physiological states with PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), to establish the basis for the future study of lower genital tract infections, and to provide a theoretical basis for the  development of vaginal probiotics adapted to Chinese females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who underwent routine gynecologic examinations in Peking  University First Hospital from October 2009 to January 2010 were enrolled, including 30 at reproductive age and 30 at post menopause age. Vaginal  samples were collected and then total bacterial DNA was extracted. Universal bacterial primers were used to amplify the V3 region of 16S rDNA gene.  PCR products were analyzed by denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Featured bands on DGGE were recovered, cloned and sequenced.  Alignment with known sequence was made by using Blast on GenBank to identify bacterial strains so as to analyze the diversity of healthy women's  vaginal dominant flora in different physiological states.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Vaginal flora in healthy Chinese women at their reproductive age were relatively  simple, Lactobacillus were the dominant bacteria. Common bacteria included: Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners,and Lactobacillus gasseri.  While L. iners were the dominant vaginal bacteria that could not be recognized by traditional method. (2) Vaginal bacteria in the women at post menopause  age were more complex than in those at reproductive age. Common bacteria included: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus, Escherichia coli,  Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Veillonella sp., Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus anginosus, Prevotella sp., Anaerococcus  lactolyticus and Bacteroides fragilis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the DGGE analysis, the most common vaginal bacteria in Chinese healthy women at  reproductive age are Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners,and Lactobacillus gasseri. the most common vaginal bacteria in healthy post-menopausal women are Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Prevotella sp.,Bacteroides fragilis and lactic  acid producing Veillonella sp. and Anaerococcus lactolyticus. Meanwhile Lactobacillus iners was firstly found by DGGE to be the dominant vaginal  bacteria in different physiological states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Bing-bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Qin-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*