Women’s Health

Health Summary. These particular microbes are most often linked to vaginal health, with Lactobacillus species playing a central role in maintaining a balanced and healthy vaginal environment. In contrast, bacteria formerly classified as Gardnerella vaginalis - now recognized as Bifidobacterium vaginale based on updated genome taxonomy - are more frequently associated with unhealthy conditions, such as infections and recurrent disease. This taxonomic revision places B. vaginale squarely within the Bifidobacterium genus and has identified twelve distinct species within this group, reflecting a more nuanced understanding of the vaginal microbiome. Below is a non-exhaustive list validated qPCR assays. Contact us for information about additional species.

Canonical Designation GTDB Designation (R226) Branchpoint Anchor Reference
Lactobacillus crispatus Lactobacillus crispatus DSM 20584
Lactobacillus gasseri Lactobacillus gasseri DSM 20243
Lactobacillus iners Lactobacillus iners DSM 13335
Lactobacillus jensenii Lactobacillus jensenii DSM 20557
Gardnerella vaginalis Bifidobacterium vaginale DSM 4944
Bifidobacterium vaginale_A Bifidobacterium vaginale_A GCA_001563665.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_B Bifidobacterium vaginale_B GCA_001546455.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_C Bifidobacterium vaginale_C GCA_040427915.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_D Bifidobacterium vaginale_D GCA_001546485.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_E Bifidobacterium vaginale_E GCA_000263595.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_F Bifidobacterium vaginale_F GCA_002896555.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_G Bifidobacterium leopoldii GCA_003293675.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_G Bifidobacterium swidsinskii GCA_003397705.1
Bifidobacterium vaginale_H Bifidobacterium vaginale_H GCA_003408845.1
n/a Bifidobacterium vaginale_I GCA_946997215.1
Bifidobacterium sp002884815 Bifidobacterium piotii GCA_003397585.1