Project:

Sequencing the smoke: the unseen microbial hazards of vaping

Students:

Rita Chen, Michelangelo Pagan, Kristoff Misquitta

Institution:

The New School, Manhattan

Mentors:

Davida Smyth

Abstract:

E-cigarettes are rapidly rising in popularity among young adults. However, their usage of these devices is plagued by poor hygiene: sharing among peers, storage in unsanitary locations, and infrequent cleaning is extremely common. These habits could turn e-cigarettes into dangerous reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria. When shared, bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli gain a mode of transmission between users. Furthermore, e-cigarette vapors are known to weaken the immune system, multiplying the likelihood of infection. In this experiment, we will collect used e-cigarette pods to culture and sequence the bacteria present. The pods are selected based on student age group and sharing history to help decipher trends in bacterial diversity, transmission, and virulence.

Poster:

Team samples: