Fluorescence micrographs and Gram stain images of vaginal fluid smears.

<p>Vaginal fluid smears from two representative study participants are shown. 4+ curved rods were documented by Gram stain (A & C) for both participants who had BV (Nugent score 10). Panels A (Gram stain) and B (FISH) are vaginal fluid smears from a representative participant with low concentrations of <i>Mobiluncus</i> DNA (2·5×10⁵ copies 16S-rRNA gene/swab) and high concentrations of BVAB1 DNA (2·4×10⁹ 16S rRNA gene copies/swab). Panel B shows a field of bacteria hybridizing with probes for BVAB1 (green) while no hybridization was observed with <i>Mobiluncus</i> probe (red). Mean quantity of BVAB1 cells was 661 versus <1 <i>Mobiluncus</i> cell. Panels C (Gram stain) and D (FISH) are vaginal fluid smears from a representative participant with high concentrations of <i>Mobiluncus</i> DNA (1·3×10⁷ 16S-rRNA gene copies/swab) and BVAB1 DNA (5·1×10⁸ 16S-rRNA gene copies/swab). Panel D shows a field of bacteria hybridizing with both <i>Mobiluncus</i> (red) and BVAB1 (green) DNA. Mean quantity of BVAB1 cells was 908 versus 145 <i>Mobiluncus</i> cells.