Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (ET)
Title: The e-vape Interaction with the oral tissues and oral pathogens
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) were developed to help smokers (heavy smokers) reduce or even quit smoking combustible cigarettes. The e-cigs are considered a better nicotine delivery method than combustible cigarettes and have reduced adverse general and oral health effects compared with combustible cigarettes. This may explain why the growing number of young people who have never engaged in combustible cigarette smoking are smoking e-cigarettes, considering it as a safe way to consume nicotine and social acceptance. However, the abundant scientific literature identified important concerns about the safety of e-cigs. Because the first entry of e-cig aerosol is the oral cavity, this may negatively affect the cells/tissues and the oral ecosystem. During the last decade, we investigated the effect of e-cigs on oral mucosa cells and tissue and on different oral microbes, including Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Through this seminar, we will discuss:
(i) How e-cig affects the gingival tissue structure, promotes cell death, and induces higher proinflammatory responses.
(ii) The effects of e-cig on C. albicans growth, yeast to hyphae transition and the expression of different virulent (secreted aspartic proteases) genes.
(iii) How e-cigarette deregulates the gingival innate immunity against C. albicans.