E. faecalis colonizes the murine female reproductive tract. (A) Adherence of E. faecalis V583 and OG1RF to human vaginal and endocervical cells. Data are expressed as percent recovered cell-associated E. faecalis relative to the initial inoculum. Experiments were performed in triplicate, and error bars represent standard deviations (SDs); the results of a representative experiment are shown. (B) CFU counts of V583 and OG1RF recovered from vaginal swabs 1 day postinoculation. (C) CFU counts of V583 from vaginal, cervical, and uterine tissue 1 day postinoculation. (D, E, and F) Mice were inoculated with V583 expressing gfp, and 7-μm sections of vaginal (D), cervical (E), and uterine (F) tissue were collected 1 day postinoculation and stained with DAPI for fluorescence microscopy. White arrows indicate green fluorescent bacteria present in tissue sections. Images were all taken at ×40 magnification. LP, lamina propria; EP, epithelial layer; Lu, lumen.