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Moghaddam ZS, Dehghan A, Halimi S, Najafi F, Nokhostin A, Naeini AE, Akbarzadeh I, Ren Q. Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles: Bridging Pathogen Biology and Therapeutic Innovation. Acta Biomater 2025:S1742-7061(25)00352-6. [PMID: 40349898 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2025.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2025] [Accepted: 05/07/2025] [Indexed: 05/14/2025]
Abstract
The main role of bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) has been associated with various processes such as intercellular communication and host-pathogen interactions. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted functions of BEVs across different biological domains, emphasizing their dual nature as contributors to disease and potential vehicles for therapeutic intervention. We examine the intricate interactions of BEVs within bacterial communities and between bacteria and hosts, their involvement in disease development through cargo delivery mechanisms, and their beneficial impact on microbial ecology. The review also highlights BEVs' applications in biomedical field, where they are revolutionizing vaccine development, targeted drug delivery, and cancer therapy. By utilizing the inherent properties of BEVs for controlled drug release, targeted antigen delivery, and immune modulation, they offer a promising frontier in precision medicine. In addition, the diagnostic potential of BEVs is explored through their utility as biomarkers, providing valuable insights into disease states and treatment efficacy. Looking forward, this review underscores the challenges and opportunities in translating BEV research to clinical practice, promoting the need of standardized methods in BEV characterization and scaling up production. The diverse abilities of BEVs, ranging from contributing to pathogen virulence to driving therapeutic innovation, highlight their potential as a cornerstone in the future of biomedical advancements. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are emerging as pivotal players in both pathogenesis and therapeutic innovation. This review explores their dual nature as agents of disease and as promising biomaterials for biomedical applications, and provides a comprehensive survey on their involvement in disease mechanisms and microbial ecology, and their potential in biomedical applications such as vaccine development, targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy, and diagnosis. It highlights the complex interactions of BEVs within bacterial communities and between bacteria and hosts. This review also addresses current advancements, challenges, and opportunities in translating BEV research into clinical practice. The insights presented here position BEVs as a cornerstone in the future of biomedical advancements, advocating for standardized methods in BEV characterization and scalable production techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashkan Dehghan
- W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 0A3
| | - Saba Halimi
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, 14155-6455 Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Najafi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-1503, United States
| | - Ali Nokhostin
- Medical Sciences & Technologies Faculty, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1477893855, Iran
| | | | - Iman Akbarzadeh
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Qun Ren
- Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
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Rima M, Dakramanji M, El Hayek E, El Khoury T, Fajloun Z, Rima M. Unveiling the wonders of bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles: From fundamental functions to beneficial applications. Heliyon 2025; 11:e42509. [PMID: 40028522 PMCID: PMC11869109 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2025] [Accepted: 02/05/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), are critical mediators of intercellular communication and exhibit significant potential across various biomedical domains. These nano-sized, membrane-encapsulated entities have captured substantial interest due to their diverse roles in pathogenesis and promising therapeutic applications. EVs manage numerous physiological processes by transferring bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, between cells. This review delves into the factors influencing the properties of EVs, such as temperature and stress conditions, which collectively influence their size, composition, and functional attributes. We also describe the emerging roles of EVs, emphasizing their involvement in microbial interactions, immune modulation, antimicrobial resistance spread and their potential as innovative diagnostic and therapeutic instruments. Despite their promising applications, the advancement of EV-based therapies faces several challenges, which will also be discussed. By elucidating these critical elements, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the transformative potential of EVs in revolutionizing diagnostics and therapeutics in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Rima
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, 1300, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Mariam Dakramanji
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Elie El Hayek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Tia El Khoury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Ziad Fajloun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, 1300, Tripoli, Lebanon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences 3, Campus Michel Slayman Ras Maska, Lebanese University, 1352, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Rima
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
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Joseph A, Anton L, Guan Y, Ferguson B, Mirro I, Meng N, France M, Ravel J, Elovitz MA. Extracellular vesicles from vaginal Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobiluncus mulieris contain distinct proteomic cargo and induce inflammatory pathways. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:28. [PMID: 38514622 PMCID: PMC10957959 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Colonization of the vaginal space with bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobiluncus mulieris is associated with increased risk for STIs, bacterial vaginosis, and preterm birth, while Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with optimal reproductive health. Although host-microbe interactions are hypothesized to contribute to reproductive health and disease, the bacterial mediators that are critical to this response remain unclear. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) are proposed to participate in host-microbe communication by providing protection of bacterial cargo, delivery to intracellular targets, and ultimately induction of immune responses from the host. We evaluated the proteome of bEVs produced in vitro from G. vaginalis, M. mulieris, and L. crispatus, identifying specific proteins of immunologic interest. We found that bEVs from each bacterial species internalize within cervical and vaginal epithelial cells, and that epithelial and immune cells express a multi-cytokine response when exposed to bEVs from G. vaginalis and M. mulieris but not L. crispatus. Further, we demonstrate that the inflammatory response induced by G. vaginalis and M. mulieris bEVs is TLR2-specific. Our results provide evidence that vaginal bacteria communicate with host cells through secreted bEVs, revealing a mechanism by which bacteria lead to adverse reproductive outcomes associated with inflammation. Elucidating host-microbe interactions in the cervicovaginal space will provide further insight into the mechanisms contributing to microbiome-mediated adverse outcomes and may reveal new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Joseph
- Women's Biomedical Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
| | - Lauren Anton
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yuxia Guan
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Briana Ferguson
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Isabella Mirro
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nova Meng
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael France
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Michal A Elovitz
- Women's Biomedical Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA
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Li Q, Li J, He T, Ji X, Wei R, Yu M, Wang R. Sub-MIC Antibiotics Modulate Productions of Outer Membrane Vesicles in Tigecycline-Resistant Escherichia coli. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:276. [PMID: 38534711 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13030276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been recognized as one of the most important crises affecting global human health in the 21st century. Tigecycline is one of the last resort antibiotics for treating severe infections caused by multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. However, the mobile resistance gene tet(X4), which could mediate high-level tigecycline resistance, was discovered in 2019. The outer membrane vesicle (OMV) has been recognized as a new route for horizontal gene transfer; antimicrobial resistant bacteria also have the ability to secret OMVs, while little is known about the impact of antibiotics on the secretion and characteristics of OMVs from tigecycline resistant bacteria till now. This study aimed to investigate the effects of antibiotics on the production and traits of a tigecycline resistant Escherichia coli strain of 47EC. The results showed that sub-inhibitory (1/2 MIC or 1/4 MIC) concentrations of gentamicin, meropenem, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, tigecycline, ciprofloxacin, polymycin, rifaximin and mitomycin C could significantly increase the secretion of OMVs (0.713 ± 0.05~6.333 ± 0.15 mg/mL) from E. coli 47EC compared to the respective untreated control (0.709 ± 0.03 mg/mL). In addition, the particle sizes of OMVs were generally larger, and the zeta potential were lower in the antibiotics-treated groups than those of the antibiotic-free group. The copy numbers of the tigecycline resistance gene of tet(X4) in the OMVs of most antimicrobial-treated groups were higher than that of the control group. Moreover, transcriptome analysis on ciprofloxacin-treated E. coli 47EC indicated that the SOS response and prophage activation might participate in the ciprofloxacin-induced OMV formation. In conclusion, the clinical application of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections, especially multi-drug resistant bacteria, might lead to the increased secretion of bacterial OMVs and the enrichment of antimicrobial-resistant genes in the OMVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianru Li
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Tao He
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xing Ji
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Ruicheng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Meiling Yu
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Safety Risk Evaluation (Nanjing) of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
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Liu BD, Akbar R, Oliverio A, Thapa K, Wang X, Fan GC. BACTERIAL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN THE REGULATION OF INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE AND HOST-MICROBE INTERACTIONS. Shock 2024; 61:175-188. [PMID: 37878470 PMCID: PMC10921997 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000002252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a new revelation in cross-kingdom communication, with increasing evidence showing the diverse roles of bacterial EVs (BEVs) in mammalian cells and host-microbe interactions. Bacterial EVs include outer membrane vesicles released by gram-negative bacteria and membrane vesicles generated from gram-positive bacteria. Recently, BEVs have drawn attention for their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic tools because they are nano-sized and can deliver bacterial cargo into host cells. Importantly, exposure to BEVs significantly affects various physiological and pathological responses in mammalian cells. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the various effects of BEVs on host cells (i.e., immune cells, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells) and inflammatory/infectious diseases. First, the biogenesis and purification methods of BEVs are summarized. Next, the mechanisms and pathways identified by BEVs that stimulate either proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses are highlighted. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms by which BEVs regulate host-microbe interactions and their effects on the immune system. Finally, this review focuses on the contribution of BEVs to the pathogenesis of sepsis/septic shock and their therapeutic potential for the treatment of sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D. Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Rubab Akbar
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Anna Oliverio
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Kajol Thapa
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Guo-Chang Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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