Mapping bacterial extracellular vesicle research: insights, best practices and knowledge gaps

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) mediate communication between bacteria and host organisms, including humans.
• Emerging research highlights BEVs' potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic agents for managing host health.
• Analyzing BEVs is challenging due to their complex origins, heterogeneity, and diverse cargo.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map current research practices and experimental trends in the field of bacterial extracellular vesicles.
• To identify knowledge gaps and areas requiring standardized protocols in BEV research.
• To facilitate the advancement and application of BEVs in clinical and research settings.

Main Methods:

• Systematic analysis of 845 publications on bacterial extracellular vesicles from 2015-2021.
• Extraction and categorization of data from 3338 reported BEV-related experiments.
• Data compilation into the publicly accessible EV-TRACK knowledgebase.

Main Results:

• Identified significant growth in BEV research publications between 2015 and 2021.
• Documented a wide range of experimental approaches and analytical techniques used in BEV studies.
• Revealed inconsistencies in reporting standards across the analyzed literature.

Conclusions:

• Transparent reporting and standardized methodologies are crucial for robust BEV research.
• Addressing identified knowledge gaps will accelerate the development of BEV-based diagnostics and therapeutics.
• The EV-TRACK knowledgebase serves as a valuable resource for the BEV research community.