FIGURE 1.

Representation of the vaginal microbiome in health and bacterial vaginosis. The healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus species that produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide and create an acidic environment. In bacterial vaginosis, the vaginal microbiome is highly colonized by anaerobic species that interact and develop a polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium. The most common symptoms of infection are the presence of a vaginal discharge and a strong smell, and an increase of vaginal pH. Figure created with BioRender.com.