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Updated: Jul 23, 2025
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Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy of Extracellular Vesicles in Three Dimensions
Published on: August 26, 2021
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Extracellular Vesicles in Microbes, Pathogens, and Infectious Diseases
Franklin Wang-Ngai Chow1, Russell M Morphew2
1Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 14, 2023
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny particles released by all organisms. These vesicles play crucial roles in cell-to-cell communication across diverse life forms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid bilayer structures secreted by a wide range of organisms.
- These vesicles are produced by diverse life forms, including archaea, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, encompassing both pathogenic and non-pathogenic species.
Discussion:
- EVs mediate intercellular communication, transferring molecular cargo between cells.
- The study of microbial EVs is crucial for understanding host-microbe interactions and pathogenesis.
- Investigating EVs from various organisms provides insights into fundamental biological processes.
Key Insights:
- All organisms, from microbes to parasites, produce extracellular vesicles.
- These vesicles are fundamental units of biological transport and communication.
- EVs represent a conserved mechanism across the tree of life.
Outlook:
- Further research into microbial EVs can reveal novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
- Understanding EV biogenesis and function across different species will advance cell biology.
- Exploring the role of EVs in inter-kingdom communication is a promising research avenue.
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