AUTHOR=Kwak Jinok , Pandey Sriniwas , Cho Jinho , Song Minho , Kim Eun Sol , Doo Hyunok , Keum Gi Beom , Ryu Sumin , Choi Yejin , Kang Juyoun , Kim Sheena , Kim Jeongyun , Kim Hyeun Bum 

TITLE=Development of the standard mouse model for human bacterial vaginosis induced by Gardnerella vaginalis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1226859

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1226859

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial syndrome characterized by a diminished number of protective <italic>bacteria</italic> in the vaginal flora. Instead, it is accompanied by a significant increase in facultative and strict anaerobes, including <italic>Gardnerella vaginalis</italic> (<italic>G. vaginalis</italic>). BV is one of the most common gynecological problems experienced by reproductive age-women. Because an ideal and standard animal model for human BV induced by <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> is still underdeveloped, the main objective of this study was to develop a mouse model for human BV induced by <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> to demonstrate the clinical attributes observed in BV patients. A total of 80 female ICR mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups and intravaginally inoculated with different doses of <italic>G. vaginalis</italic>: NC (uninfected negative control), PC1 (inoculated with 1 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU of <italic>G. vaginalis</italic>), PC2 (inoculated with 1 × 10<sup>6</sup> CFU of <italic>G. vaginalis</italic>) and PC3 (inoculated with 1 × 10<sup>7</sup> CFU of <italic>G. vaginalis</italic>). The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10) in mice administered with <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> were significantly higher than those of the control group. Gross lesion and histopathological analysis of reproductive tract of mice inoculated with <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> showed inflammation and higher epithelial cell exfoliation compared to the control group. In addition, vaginal swabs from the mice inoculated with <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> showed the presence of clue cells, which are a characteristic feature of human BV. Altogether, our results suggested that <italic>G. vaginalis</italic> is sufficient to generate comparable clinical attributes seen in patients with BV.</p>