Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Directed Protein Packaging within Outer Membrane Vesicles from Escherichia coli: Design, Production and Purification
10:21

Directed Protein Packaging within Outer Membrane Vesicles from Escherichia coli: Design, Production and Purification

Published on: November 16, 2016

13.6K

Gene Transfer Potential of Outer Membrane Vesicles of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Federica Dell'Annunziata1, Veronica Folliero1, Rosa Giugliano1

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Gram-negative bacteria facilitate horizontal gene transfer (HGT), spreading antibiotic resistance and virulence. This review explores OMVs

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant bacteria pose a significant global health threat.
  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a key mechanism for the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.
  • Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are increasingly recognized as mediators of bacterial communication and gene transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in mediating horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • To highlight the mechanisms of OMV packaging, release, and DNA transfer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating OMVs and HGT in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Analysis of current understanding of OMV biogenesis and cargo loading.
  • Synthesis of evidence on the role of OMVs in DNA transfer.

Main Results:

  • OMVs are nanostructures released by Gram-negative bacteria that can carry DNA molecules.
  • These vesicles act as molecular carriers, delivering genetic material between bacteria.
  • The packaging, release, and transfer mechanisms of DNA within OMVs are under active investigation.

Conclusions:

  • OMVs represent a novel and significant pathway for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.
  • Understanding OMV-mediated HGT is crucial for combating the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in OMV-mediated DNA transfer.
Keywords:
DNAgram-negative bacteriahorizontal gene transferouter membrane vesicles

More Related Videos

Characterization of Membrane Transporters by Heterologous Expression in E. coli and Production of Membrane Vesicles13:16

Characterization of Membrane Transporters by Heterologous Expression in E. coli and Production of Membrane Vesicles

Published on: December 31, 2019

9.5K
Scalable Isolation and Purification of Extracellular Vesicles from Escherichia coli and Other Bacteria09:56

Scalable Isolation and Purification of Extracellular Vesicles from Escherichia coli and Other Bacteria

Published on: October 13, 2021

4.2K

Related Concept Videos

Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems01:17

Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems

Gram-negative bacteria utilize sophisticated protein secretion systems to transport proteins across their double-membrane envelope into the extracellular environment or host cells. Based on their mechanism of action, these systems are classified into one-step and two-step pathways.One-Step Secretion Systems (Types I, III, IV, and VI)One-step secretion systems bypass the periplasm entirely, forming a continuous channel that spans both the inner and outer membranes:Type I Secretion System (T1SS):...
282
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion01:26

Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion

Bacterial protein secretion involves translocation systems to ensure proteins reach their designated locations, including the plasma membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, or the external environment. These translocation systems are vital for bacterial physiology, supporting processes like membrane assembly, enzymatic activity in the periplasm, and interactions with the external environment. The division of labor between Sec and Tat pathways ensures efficiency in handling proteins with diverse...
195
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
399
Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
57.1K
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Genetic transfer occurs when genetic information is passed from one organism to another. It occurs via two mechanisms: vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer. Vertical gene transfer occurs when genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next, which happens much more frequently than horizontal gene transfer. Both sexual and asexual reproduction are forms of vertical gene transfer, where one or more organisms pass some or all of their genome onto their progeny.
29.8K
Conjugation01:19

Conjugation

Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that primarily occurs in bacteria and some archaea, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation. Bacteria can acquire resistance genes through conjugative plasmids, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatments that would otherwise be lethal. This process involves direct contact between cells through specialized structures such as the sex pilus and is mediated by conjugative plasmids, including the F (fertility) factor.Conjugation requires...
1.2K