biofilm formation of and associated with bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimum biofilm formation ratio of () in a mixed culture with ().

METHODS

ATCC14018, ATCC25922, as well as five strains of were selected from the vaginal sources of patients whose biofilm forming capacity was determined by the Crystal Violet method. The biofilm forming capacity of in anaerobic and non-anaerobic environments were compared using the identical assay. The Crystal Violet method was also used to determine the biofilm forming capacity of a co-culture of and in different ratios. After Live/Dead staining, biofilm thickness was measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and biofilm morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

The biofilm forming capacity of under anaerobic environment was similar to that in a 5% CO environment. The biofilm forming capacity of and was stronger at 10:10 CFU/mL than at other ratios (<0.05). Their thicknesses were greater at 10:10 CFU/mL than at the other ratios, with the exception of 10:10 CFU/mL (<0.05), under laser scanning microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed increased biofilm formation at 10:10 CFU/mL and 10:10 CFU/mL, but no discernible was observed at 10:10 CFU/mL.

CONCLUSION

and showed the greatest biofilm forming capacity at a concentration of 10:10 CFU/mL at 48 hours and could be used to simulate a mixed infection of bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis .