Electronic Cigarette (E-Cigarette) Vapor Exposure alters the Streptococcus pneumoniae Transcriptome in a Nicotine-Dependent Manner without affecting Pneumococcal Virulence.

This study found that electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor (EV) exposure significantly alters the transcriptome of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a potentially deadly pathogen that asymptomatically colonizes the human nasopharynx, in a nicotine-dependent manner without affecting pneumococcal virulence. Specifically, nicotine-containing EV augmented TIGR4 biofilms and altered expression of TIGR4 genes predominantly involved in metabolism and stress response. however, neither nicotine-containing nor nicotine-free EV affected TIGR4 virulence in a mouse model. These findings suggest that e-cigarette vapor may have unintended consequences on the human respiratory microbiome, which could have implications for public health.

Bagale K, Paudel S, Cagle h, Sigel E, Kulkarni R. Electronic Cigarette (E-Cigarette) Vapor Exposure alters the Streptococcus pneumoniae Transcriptome in a Nicotine-Dependent Manner without affecting Pneumococcal Virulence. applied and environmental microbiology. 2020;86(3). doi:10.1128/aEM.02125-19