Vaginal lactobacillus medicant

The present invention relates to a bacterium of the genus Lactobacillus with desirable characteristics suitable for use in a vaginal medicant. More particularly, this invention relates to a vaginal medicant having a substantially pure culture of preserved microbial cells, to a preservation matrix, to a method for preserving the microbial cells within the preservation matrix, and to methods for preventing and treating vaginal infections. Disclosed are novel isolated strains of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus which are useful in a vaginal medicant. Also disclosed are medicants containing such Lactobacilli, a novel preservation matrix for microorganisms, a method for preserving microbial cells within a medicant, and methods for preventing and treating vaginal and gastrointestinal infections.