TY - JOUR
T1 - E-cigarette vapor alters gut microbiota composition in zebrafish
AU - Dong, Thi Ngoc Mai
AU - Boncan, Delbert Almerick T.
AU - Tan, Carl Andersen Macaraeg
AU - Liu, Da Wei
AU - Sun, Hsin Yu
AU - Huang, Ting Wei
AU - Hsu, Chen
AU - Chu, Kuo Chang
AU - Ulhaq, Zulvikar Syambani
AU - Lai, Keng Po
AU - Drummond, Douglas Robert
AU - Ogino, Yukiko
AU - Jiang, Yun Jin
AU - You, May Su
AU - Chen, Jen Kun
AU - Chan, Ting Fung
AU - Tse, William Ka Fai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2026/1/15
Y1 - 2026/1/15
N2 - Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained widespread popularity as alternatives to traditional tobacco products; however, their health effects remain poorly characterized. This study investigates the biological impact of e-cigarette vapor exposure, with and without nicotine, on gut microbiota composition and behavior in adult zebrafish. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed distinct microbial shifts following exposure. The nicotine-free vapor group (E-vapor medium; EVM) showed enrichment of Shewanellaceae and Barnesiellaceae while the nicotine-containing group (E-vapor medium with nictotine; EVMN) exhibited reductions in beneficial taxa such as Fusobacteriaceae, alongside an increase in Vibrionaceae. MetaCyc analysis identified enrichment of microbial pathways involved in xenobiotic degradation and oxidative stress responses, indicating both direct chemical metabolism and secondary stress adaptation. Lastly, behavioral assays demonstrated altered locomotor activity and reduced shock response in both EVM and EVMN groups, suggesting potential neurobehavioral dysregulation. This study highlights the potential toxicity of e-cigarette vapor and emphasizes the need to reassess the regulations of surrounding e-cigarette use.
AB - Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained widespread popularity as alternatives to traditional tobacco products; however, their health effects remain poorly characterized. This study investigates the biological impact of e-cigarette vapor exposure, with and without nicotine, on gut microbiota composition and behavior in adult zebrafish. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed distinct microbial shifts following exposure. The nicotine-free vapor group (E-vapor medium; EVM) showed enrichment of Shewanellaceae and Barnesiellaceae while the nicotine-containing group (E-vapor medium with nictotine; EVMN) exhibited reductions in beneficial taxa such as Fusobacteriaceae, alongside an increase in Vibrionaceae. MetaCyc analysis identified enrichment of microbial pathways involved in xenobiotic degradation and oxidative stress responses, indicating both direct chemical metabolism and secondary stress adaptation. Lastly, behavioral assays demonstrated altered locomotor activity and reduced shock response in both EVM and EVMN groups, suggesting potential neurobehavioral dysregulation. This study highlights the potential toxicity of e-cigarette vapor and emphasizes the need to reassess the regulations of surrounding e-cigarette use.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025038543
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181199
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181199
M3 - Article
C2 - 41422696
AN - SCOPUS:105025038543
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 1012
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 181199
ER -