An Update on Our Understanding of Gram-positive Bacterial Membrane Vesicles: Discovery, Functions, and Applications

Overview

Journal Front Cell Infect Microbiol

Specialties Cell Biology
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2023 Oct 20

PMID 37860067

Authors

Yiyun Xu

Chonghong Xie

Yong Liu

Xiaosong Qin

Jianhua Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles released from cells into the extracellular environment, and are separated from eukaryotic cells, bacteria, and other organisms with cellular structures. EVs alter cell communication by delivering their contents and performing various functions depending on their cargo and release into certain environments or other cells. The cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and were previously thought to be unable to produce EVs. However, recent studies have demonstrated that Gram-positive bacterial EVs are crucial for health and disease. In this review, we have summarized the formation, composition, and characteristics of the contents, resistance to external stress, participation in immune regulation, and other functions of Gram-positive bacterial EVs, as well as their application in clinical diagnosis and treatment, to provide a new perspective to further our understanding of Gram-positive bacterial EVs.

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