Richard Gui is analyzing the interactions of N. gonorrhoeae with Gardnerella species. It is known that patients with BV are more likely to acquire N. gonorrhoeae infection and patients with gonococcal cervicitis are more likely to develop BV, but the mechanisms involved are not known. Our previous work found that Gardnerella vaginalis survival in vitro is aided by the presence of N. gonorrhoeae and that both bacterial species have to be alive and thus presumably communicating in order for this growth promotion to occur. Richard is further investigating this communication and determining if other pathogenic Gardnerella species show similar phenotypes.