Bacterial extracellular vesicles: A position paper by the Microbial Vesicles Task Force of the Chinese Society for Extracellular Vesicles (3/2023)

• Published in: Interdisciplinary medicine (Richmond, Vic. Print) Vol. 1; no. 3
• Main Authors: Wen, Minghui, Wang, Jingyu, Ou, Zihao, Nie, Guangjun, Chen, Ye, Li, Min, Wu, Zhiwei, Xiong, Sidong, Zhou, Hongwei, Yang, Zifeng, Long, Gang, Su, Jiacan, Liu, Han, Jin, Yingying, Wen, Zhenke, Fu, Yuxuan, Zhou, Tieli, Xie, Hui, Guan, Wenda, Sun, Xi, Wang, Zhang, Wang, Juan, Chen, Xunxun, Jiang, Linglei, Qin, Xiaolin, Xue, Yicong, Huang, Mei, Huang, Xinyue, Pan, Ruoru, Zhen, Haojun, Du, Yuqi, Li, Qianbei, Huang, Xixin, Wu, Yuanyuan, Wang, Pingping, Zhao, Kening, Situ, Bo, Hu, Xiumei, Zheng, Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2023
• ISSN: 2832-6245; 2832-6245
• DOI: 10.1002/inmd.12046

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are a specific type of lipid vesicles released by bacteria into the external environment. In recent years, scientists have discovered that BEVs are closely related to human health and play a significant role in our physiological and pathological processes. BEVs carry proteins, nucleic acids, and other bioactive molecules produced by the bacteria and transfer them between bacteria and human cells. These molecules can influence the host's immune and inflammatory responses, playing a crucial role in maintaining health and regulating diseases. Research has found that BEVs can act as a tool for information transfer, influencing the function of the immune system by activating or inhibiting the signaling pathways of host cells. Additionally, BEVs have been identified as potential disease markers. The pathogenic factors they carry can enter the human circulatory system, trigger inflammatory responses, and adversely affect health. Beyond serving as information carriers and disease markers, BEVs also exhibit characteristics of potential drug delivery systems. They can encapsulate and deliver drugs, genes, and other therapeutic molecules, demonstrating stability and biocompatibility. This nanoscale delivery system can be used for precision medicine and personalized treatment, offering new possibilities for drug development and enhancing therapeutic effectiveness. In summary, as lipid vesicles released by bacteria, BEVs play a significant role in human health. By influencing the immune system, serving as disease markers, and acting as a novel drug delivery system, BEVs are vital for our understanding of disease mechanisms, improving diagnostic and treatment levels. Further research will help deepen our understanding of the functions and applications of BEVs, providing new avenues and strategies for promoting human health.