E-Cigarette aerosol Exposure Favors the Growth and Colonization of Oral Streptococcus mutans Compared to Commensal Streptococci.

Introduction:
This article examines the impact of e-cigarette aerosols on the growth and colonization of different species of Streptococcus, which are common bacteria found in the oral cavity. The study compares the effects of e-cigarette aerosols with and without nicotine and menthol flavoring on the commensal streptococci S. sanguinis and S. gordonii and the opportunistic pathogen S. mutans.

Key Points:

* E-cigarette aerosols suppress the growth of S. sanguinis and S. gordonii but not S. mutans.
* E-cigarette aerosols promote S. mutans biofilm formation but do not affect S. sanguinis and S. gordonii.
* S. mutans exhibits higher hydrophobicity and coaggregation abilities, as well as higher attachment to OKF6 cells, than S. sanguinis and S. gordonii.
* The study suggests that e-cigarette vaping could open a niche for opportunistic bacteria such as S. mutans to colonize the oral cavity and affect oral health.
* E-cigarette aerosols reduce the biomass accumulation of S. sanguinis and S. gordonii without affecting the biomass accumulation of S. mutans.
* The heat generated by the atomizer heating coil results in the emission and inhalation of harmful and toxic vape by-products.
* The study highlights the need for further research on how e-cigarette aerosols and vaping affect the oral microbiota and oral health.

Main Message:
The study demonstrates that e-cigarette aerosols have the potential to dysregulate oral bacterial homeostasis by suppressing the growth of commensals while enhancing the biofilm formation of the opportunistic pathogen S. mutans. This shift in bacterial populations could lead to changes in oral bacterial homeostasis and have negative effects on oral health. Therefore, it is essential to conduct more research on the long-term consequences of e-cigarette aerosols and vaping on host-bacterial interactions and the oral microbiome.

Catala-Valentin a, Bernard JN, Caldwell M, Maxson J, Moore SD, andl CD. E-Cigarette aerosol Exposure Favors the Growth and Colonization of Oral Streptococcus mutans Compared to Commensal Streptococci. Microbiology spectrum. 2022;10(2):1. doi:10.1128/spectrum.02421-21