Isolation and Purification of Mycobacterial Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain numerous active substances that mediate bacterial interactions with their host and with other microbes. Best defined are the EVs from Gram-negative bacteria that have been shown to deliver virulence factors, modulate the immune responses, mediate antibiotic resistance, and also inhibit competitive microbes. Due to the complex cell wall structures of Gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria, EVs from these bacteria were only recently reported. This protocol describes the isolation of EVs from mycobacteria.