Fig 3. Ability of vaginal and probiotic Lactobacillus strains to produce (I) L-lactate, (II) D- lactate, and (III) H₂O₂ under anaerobic conditions.

Concentrations of H₂O₂, L- and D-lactate produced by L. crispatus (A), L. gasseri (B), L. vaginalis (C), L. jensenii (D), L. mucosae (E) and the commercial probiotic (F; including L. reuteri [LR], L. rhamnosus [LRH] and L. acidophilus [LA]) strains after 24 hours anaerobic incubation were measured. Isolates from BV/STI-negative women are shown by plain bars, those from BV and/or STI-positive women are patterned and ATCC strains are shown by black bars.