Fig. 7

Anti-Candida activity of biosurfactant (BS) from L. crispatus BC1 in a murine experimental model. aC. albicans 2 (C.a.) viable cells and b leukocytes in vaginal samples of mice receiving preventive (P), preventive–simultaneous (P–S) or simultaneous (S) intravaginally (i.va.) administration of BS against i.va. challenge with C.a. C and BS correspond to mice inoculated only with C.a. and BS, respectively. Data are plotted as average values of C.a. viable cell or leukocyte numbers ± standard error. Statistically significant differences between the values of experimental groups on the same sampling day are indicated by different letters (P < 0.05). c May Grunwald–Giemsa-stained vaginal smears and d Hematoxylin–Eosin-stained vaginal slides of the different experimental group at day 1 of sampling. Influx of leukocytes in the vaginal washing and lumen of C.a.-challenged mice is indicated with black arrows. Results are representative of two independent experiments