FIGURE 1.

Sialidase enzyme activity reflects microbiological status. BV status was assessed by Nugent scoring of Gram-stained vaginal smears (scores shown in parentheses). A, kinetics of sialidase activity was measured in vaginal swab elutions using 4MUSia. Briefly, sialidase activity was measured by combining one volume of BV sample with two volumes of substrate at 300 μm to give a final concentration of 200 μm in 100 mm sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5. Representative data are shown. B, rates of 4MUSia hydrolysis are elevated in BV, whereas normal controls were sialidase negative. ***, p < 0.0001.