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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
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Protocols for Vaginal Inoculation and Sample Collection in the Experimental Mouse Model of Candida vaginitis
Published on: December 8, 2011
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Summary
The vaginal microbiome, often dominated by lactobacilli, maintains an acidic environment crucial for health. Its composition and function, influenced by factors like ethnicity, define its stability and relation to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Microbiome Studies
- Gynecology
Background:
- The vaginal microbiome is a distinct microbial community within the human microbiome.
- It is characterized by low diversity, typically dominated by lactobacilli, which produce lactic acid to maintain an acidic environment.
- Estrogen levels influence glycogen availability, supporting lactobacilli growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present current concepts of the vaginal microbiota, including historical perspectives.
- To highlight recent findings on the structure and function of the vaginal microbiome.
- To explore the relationship between vaginal microbiota composition and health/dysbiosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid).
- Keywords included: vaginal microbiota, vaginal microbiome, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginitis, Lactobacillus.
Main Results:
- Lactobacilli utilize glycogen to produce lactic acid, acidifying the vaginal milieu and contributing to stability.
- Low microbial diversity is typical, but increased diversity can paradoxically indicate dysbiosis like bacterial vaginosis.
- Lactobacillus crispatus is a key species in healthy vaginal microbiota, though non-lactobacillary communities exist and vary by ethnicity.
Conclusions:
- Defining vaginal microbiota solely by microbial presence/absence is insufficient; function, structure, and dynamics are critical.
- Ethnicity, physiological status, and genetic predisposition influence vaginal microbiota composition and health.
- A functional definition, considering these factors, is essential for understanding normal vaginal microbiota.
Keywords:
(vaginal microbiota/ microbiom; vaginal discharge; bacterial vaginosis; vulvovaginitis; vaginal Lactobacillus).
Results:
The vaginal microbiome is a specific compartment of the human microbiome. Unique conditions of the vagina are characterized by a few microbial speciesH2O2Lactobacillusalthough the incidence of some of them can be correlated with dysbiosis or eubiosis. The composition of microbiota is importantand genetic disposition of woman.
Keywords:
vaginal microbiomeand their relative ratio is likely to give the vaginal microbiota a certain degree of stability and ability to withstand some infections. This microbiota is manifested by a low degree of diversity and by the high dynamics of changes of its composition under the influence of various exogenous and endogenous factors. Increase in diversity can be paradoxically associated with a dysbiosis such as bacterial vaginosis. Individual species of lactobacilli mainly Lactobacillus crispatus characterize the main community state types in the vagina. Apart from lactobacillibut it is only one of the basic attributes of normal vaginal microbiotabut not sufficient; that is the functional definition of vaginal microbiota in relation to its structure and dynamicscommunity state typesdysbiosishealthy women may be colonized with a non-lactobacillary microbiota whose rate is dependent on ethnicity. Conclusion: The definition of vaginal microbiota cannot be only related to the presence or absence of individual microorganismshistorical and recent conceptincluding the influence of ethnicitylactic acidpHphysiological status of the vaginasexual hormonessexual hormones historical and recent concept.usually lactobacillivaginal microbiomewhich are able to utilize glycogenwhich is under control of estrogens. Lactobacilli and other fermentative bacteria together with vaginal epithelial cells produce lactic acid and are responsible for acidifying vaginal milieu. Lactic acid occurs in two isomeric forms
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