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Characterizing Extracellular Vesicles from Biological Fluids
05:07

Characterizing Extracellular Vesicles from Biological Fluids

Published on: February 28, 2025

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Extracellular Vesicles as Vehicles for the Delivery of Biologically Active Fungal Molecules

Patricia F Herkert1,2, Rafaela F Amatuzzi1, Lysangela R Alves1

  • 1Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil.

Current Protein & Peptide Science
|May 31, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial for fungal cell-cell communication, exporting vital molecules. These fungal EVs play roles in host interactions and may serve as diagnostic biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures essential for exporting diverse molecules from fungal cells.
  • Proteomic analysis reveals fungal EVs contain proteins involved in metabolism, signal transduction, and virulence.
  • EVs are conserved across life and mediate intercellular communication, with bidirectional transport observed in fungi.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of fungal EVs in cell-cell communication.
  • To explore the involvement of fungal EVs in host-pathogen interactions and environmental sensing.
  • To discuss the potential of fungal EVs as diagnostic biomarkers and in drug delivery or antifungal resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of proteomic studies on fungal EVs.
  • Analysis of research on EV-mediated transport in fungi.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of EV functions in fungal biology.

Main Results:

  • Fungal EVs transport proteins, lipids, toxins, nucleic acids, pigments, and polysaccharides.
  • EVs facilitate fungal cell-cell communication and are involved in immunomodulation via virulence factors, antigens, and allergens.
  • Bidirectional transport of EVs between fungal cells has been demonstrated.

Conclusions:

  • Fungal EVs are key mediators of intercellular communication and host-pathogen interactions.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the roles of fungal EVs in diagnostics, drug delivery, and antifungal resistance.
  • Understanding fungal EVs offers potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
Fungiextracellular vesiclelipidspigmentsprotein exporttoxins.

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