New study finds vape mouthpieces ‘colonised with fungi’

A new study has revealed you may be inhaling more than just magical flavours when vaping. 

The study, conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Florida in the US, titled: Mycobiome analysis of electronic cigarettes reveals a reservoir of pathogenic yeasts has recently been published on the pre-print server bioRxiv. 

While many studies have shown that vapes are not a healthier alternative to smoking, this study focused on how fungi affect vapers’ lungs. 

The group hypothesised that e-cigarettes are colonised by pathogenic microbes which contribute to lung disease in users, given the object’s enclosed plastic design and temperature fluctuations. 

“We enrolled 25 e-cigarette users, most of whom used e-cigarettes daily, had disposable devices, and did not clean their devices. About a third of the subjects reported respiratory symptoms,” researchers said. 

Using sequencing and culture techniques of the devices and mouthwash of 25 users in their study, they found a small subset of mouthpieces to contain bacteria but were abundantly colonised with fungi. 

This fungus is not usually found in the mouth. 

The fungi included types of Rhodotorula, Aureobasidium, Cystobasidium, and Meyerozyma.  One fungus, Cystobasidium minutum, was especially common in their findings. 

The group of researchers then used the most commonly found fungus, Cystobasidium minutum, and gave it to mice to monitor the effects it would have. 

Once given to mice, it caused them to have more mucus in their lungs, making it harder to breathe, and showing signs of lung disease like chronic bronchitis. 

In mice exposed to the fungi, increased breathing and airway hyper responsiveness were observed. Histologically, mucus accumulation, airway remodeling, and goblet cell hyperplasia were also seen in the lungs of mice. 

Although the fungus wasn't always found in the mice's lungs afterward, one mouse did show it. The researchers concluded that e-cigarettes often have fungi that can cause lung problems. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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