The Complexity of Bacterial Vaginosis:

1
The Complexity of Bacterial Vaginosis

• Do Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms contribute to
  the growth of other anaerobes associated with
  bacterial vaginosis?

Annica Stull-Lane BBSI 2008
Home Mentor Taylor Allen
VCU Mentor Kimberly Jefferson
2
What is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

• Most common vaginal disorder in reproductive
  women, world-wide

• Characterized by
• 1) raised pH,
• 2) overgrowth of unhealthy anaerobes,
• 3) reduction of lactobacilli

http//www.yamagiku.co.jp/pathology/photo/photo138
-1.htm
3
Complications with BV

• Preterm delivery
• Increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
  (PID)
• Increased susceptibility to HIV
  acquisition/transmission

• Recurring!
• Treatment

http//the-half-decent-pharmaceutical-chemistry-bl
og.chemblogs.org/archives/2006/11/23/drug-of-the-w
eek-metronidazole
4
Etiology and Pathogenesis of BV?

• Not fully known
• Sexually transmitted?
• Important connection between characterization
  factors

Reduction of lactobacilli Reduction in H2O2
production
Overgrowth of BV associated bacteria
Raised pH
Wilson, J. Managing recurrent bacterial
vaginosis. Sex Transm Infect 2004808-11.
5
BV-associated bacteria

• Gardnerella vaginalismost prevalent
• Other anaerobes, including
• Atopobium vaginae
• Prevotella bivia
• Mobiluncus vaginalis
• Biofilm

Gardnerella vaginalis biofilm
6
Hypothesis

• Gardnerella vaginalis is the initial colonizer
• This allows for other BV-associated anaerobes to
  adhere to the vaginal epithelium and survive in
  the presence of O2, lactic acid, H2O2 etc

7
Experiment

• Mathematical Modeling
• How effectively would a G. vaginalis biofilm
  deplete O2
• Wet lab work
• Test tolerance of anaerobes grown alone or with
  G. vaginalis biofilm to O2 and other chemicals
• Analyze adherence of anaerobes to vaginal
  epithelial cells and to G. vaginalis biofilms
• Anaerobes Atopobium vaginae, Prevotella bivia,
  Mobiluncus vaginalis