Fig. 5

Culture of non-optimal G. vaginalis containing consortia in the vagina chip. A Total CFU/Chip of BVC1 and BVC2 consortia bacteria measured in effluents from the vaginal epithelium-lined channel at 24, 48, and 72 h and epithelial tissue digest at 72 h relative to the starting inoculum (T0). Total, total CFUs measured in effluents + digest; Digest, CFU in the tissue digest. B pH measured in medium in the epithelial channel of vagina chips cultured in the presence or absence of G. vaginalis containing and BVC1 and BVC2 consortia for 72 h. C Percent viability of vaginal epithelial cells cultured on-chip in the presence of BVC1 or BVC2 consortia assessed by calculating the number of live cells relative to control using a trypan blue exclusion assay. D The levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1α, IL-1β, and IP-10) measured in effluents of vagina chips cultured with BVC1 and BVC2 consortia are shown relative to control chips. Each data point indicates one chip; data are presented as mean ± sem; significance was calculated by one-way ANOVA; *, P < 0.01,**, P < 0.001