title: Quantitative analysis of initial adhesion of bacterial vaginosis-associated anaerobes to ME-180 cells.
abstract: Bacterial vaginosis is the leading vaginal disorder but the transition from health to this dysbiotic condition remains poorly characterized. Our goal was to quantify the ability of BV-associated anaerobes to adhere to epithelial cells in the presence of lactobacilli. Gardnerella vaginalis outcompeted Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners actually enhanced its adherence.
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA. Electronic address: machadobq@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harwich
authors.forename: Kimberly Kay
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cerca
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Gardnerella vaginalis; Lactobacilli; ME-180; Vaginal epithelial cells