title: Induction of vaginal Lactobacillus phages by the cigarette smoke chemical benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide.
abstract: Because smoking increases a woman's risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is manifested by a reduction of vaginal lactobacilli and an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, chemicals contained in cigarette smoke were analyzed in vitro to determine their role in reducing lactobacilli. The result showed that trace amounts of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE), which can be found in vaginal secretion of women who smoke, significantly increased phage induction in lactobacilli. This finding implies that smoking may reduce vaginal lactobacilli by promoting phage induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 801 South Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Pavlova
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D008242:Lysogeny / Q000187:drug effects; D009153:Mutagens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide