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Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Accelerating Research on Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles Separation and Heterogeneity
Published on: September 1, 2023
Bacterial membrane vesicles in inflammatory bowel disease
Qichen Shen1, Bingbai Xu2, Caihong Wang1
1Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China.
Abstract:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation with no cure. The intestine is fundamental in controlling human health. Disruption of the microbial ecosystem in the intestine is considered an important cause of IBD. The interaction between the host and microbiota significantly impacts the intestinal epithelial barrier and immune function. Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are vital participants in bacteria-bacteria and host-microbiota communication. Currently, MVs have been found to exhibit many important regulating effects for intestinal microecology and have excellent application potential in clinical disease therapies. In the present review, we review the current knowledge on MVs, and specifically focus on gut bacterial MVs and their roles in the IBD. In addition, we summarized the potential utility of MVs as a novel therapeutic approach in IBD patients.
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