Extracellular Vesicle Biogenesis and Functions in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Overview

Journal Infect Immun

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2020 Sep 29

PMID 32989035

Citations 101

Authors

Paul Briaud

Ronan K Carroll

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived lipid bilayers secreted by bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Bacterial membrane vesicles were discovered over 60 years ago and have been extensively studied in Gram-negative bacteria. During their production, EVs are loaded with proteins, nucleic acids, and various compounds that are subsequently released into the environment. Depending on the packaged cargo, EVs have a broad spectrum of action and are involved in pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance, nutrient uptake, and nucleic acid transfer. Due to differences in cell wall structure, EVs in Gram-positive bacteria have been disregarded for decades, and our understanding of their biogenesis and host cell interaction is incomplete. Recently, studies on bacteria such as , spp., , and spp. have demonstrated EV production in Gram-positive bacteria and shown the great importance EVs have in Gram-positive bacterial physiology and disease progression. Here, we review the latest findings on the biogenesis and functions of EVs from Gram-positive bacteria and identify key areas for future research.

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