Biofilms of vaginal Lactobacillus in vitro test.
This paper focuses on biofilms of Lactobacillus spp. - a type of normal flora isolated from healthy human vaginas of women of childbearing age; thereupon, it broadens the research scope of investigation of vaginal normal flora. The static slide culture method was adopted to foster biofilms, marked by specific fluorescence staining. Laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the microstructure of the biofilms. Photographs taken from the microstructure were analysed to calculate the density of the biofilms. The body of Lactobacillus spp., though red, turned yellow when interacting with the green extracellular polysaccharides. The structure of the biofilm and aquaporin within the biofilm were imaged. Lactobacillus density increases over time. This study provides convincing evidence that Lactobacillus can form biofilms and grow over time in vitro. This finding establishes an important and necessary condition for selecting proper strains for the pharmaceutics of vaginal ecology.
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , Peking University First Hospital , Beijing , China.
Xiao-Yu
XY
Wei
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , Peking University First Hospital , Beijing , China.
Rui
R
Zhang
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , Peking University First Hospital , Beijing , China.
Bing-Bing
BB
Xiao
a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics , Peking University First Hospital , Beijing , China.
Qin-Ping
QP
Liao
D000328:Adult; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D061848:Optical Imaging; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
Vaginal Lactobacillus biofilms; laser scanning confocal microscope; scanning electron microscope