Microbial interactions in the vaginal ecosystem, with emphasis on the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis

During bacterial vaginosis (BV), populations of lactobacilli which are gene rally dominant in the vagina of overtly healthy women are replaced by other facultative and anaerobic microorganisms. Some Lactobacillus strains produ ce hydrogen peroxide and all produce lactic acid; however, the antagonistic role of these metabolites in vivo remains controversial. Positive interact ions among BV-associated organisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of BV and its sequelae. (C) Elsevier, Paris.