G. vaginalis increases HSV-2 infection by decreasing vaginal barrier integrity and increasing inflammation in vivo

Introduction: Clinically, a dysbiotic vaginal microbiota (VMB) colonized with anaerobic species such as Gardnerella vaginalis has been linked to increased susceptibility to viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2). The mechanism is poorly understood due to the lack of small animal models. Methods: Mice were inoculated with 10⁷ CFU of the eubiotic bacteria Lactobacillus crispatus, the dysbiotic …