Lagenaur, LA, Lee, PP, Hamer, DH, Sanders-Beer, BE. Res Microbiol. 2011 Dec;162(10):1006-10. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2011.08.003. Epub 2011 Aug 29.
Synopsis: It has been postulated that the rectal microbiome serves as a reservoir for the vaginal microbiome. To test this hypothesis, a Lactobacillus jensenii engineered to express GusA (a blue-color–tagged Lactobacillus) was delivered orally to macaques. Vaginal and rectal swabs were taken at regular intervals and within ~3-4 weeks the blue Lactobacillus was detected in the rectums and vaginas of the animals. This result suggests that the rectum can indeed seed the vaginal microbiota.