Fig. 1

Co-localization of cervicovaginal epithelial cells with live G. vaginalis but not L. crispatus results in increased cell death. An in vitro live bacteria and host cervicovaginal co-culture model were created to study host microbial interactions in the CV space. Representative images of ectocervical (A, B), endocervical (C, D), and vaginal (E, F) epithelial cells interacting with L. crispatus (A, C, E) or G. vaginalis (B, D, F) are shown. Exposure of ectocervical (G), endocervical (H), and vaginal (I) cells to G. vaginalis but not L. crispatus results in dose-dependent cell death after 24 h. Values are mean ± SEM. Asterisks over the individual bars represent comparisons with control; asterisks over solid lines represent comparisons between treatment groups. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001