Optimization of culture conditions for Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms formation

Bacterial vaginosis is the leading vaginal disorder in women in reproductive age. Although bacterial vaginosis is related with presence of a biofilm composed predominantly by Gardnerella vaginalis, there has not been detailed information addressing the environmental conditions influence in the biofi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Machado, D. (author)
Other Authors: Palmeira-de-Oliveira, Ana (author), Cerca, Nuno (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1822/37570
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt:1822/37570
Description
Summary:Bacterial vaginosis is the leading vaginal disorder in women in reproductive age. Although bacterial vaginosis is related with presence of a biofilm composed predominantly by Gardnerella vaginalis, there has not been detailed information addressing the environmental conditions influence in the biofilm formation of this bacterial species. Here, we evaluated the influence of some common culture conditions on G. vaginalis biofilm formation, namely inoculum concentration, incubation period, feeding conditions and culture medium composition. Our results showed that culture conditions strongly influenced G. vaginalis biofilm formation and that biofilm formation was enhanced when starting the culture with a higher inoculum, using a fed-batch system and supplementing the growth medium with maltose.