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Experimental Approaches to Investigating the Vaginal Biofilm Microbiome

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Microbial Biofilms

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1147))

Abstract

Unraveling the complex ecology of the vaginal biofilm microbiome relies on a number of complementary techniques. Here, we describe the experimental approaches for studying vaginal microbial biofilm samples with a focus on specimen preparation for subsequent analysis. The techniques include fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Isolation of microbial DNA and RNA from these samples is covered along with a brief discussion of chemical analysis methods.

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Acknowledgment

Research reported in this publication was supported, in part, by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AI100744. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, 2275 E Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91107, USA

    Marc M. Baum, Manjula Gunawardana & Paul Webster

Authors
  1. Marc M. Baum
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  2. Manjula Gunawardana
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  3. Paul Webster
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc M. Baum .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Microbial Biofilm Laboratory, Rome, Italy

    Gianfranco Donelli

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Baum, M.M., Gunawardana, M., Webster, P. (2014). Experimental Approaches to Investigating the Vaginal Biofilm Microbiome. In: Donelli, G. (eds) Microbial Biofilms. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1147. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0466-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0467-9

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