mGem: Decoding transmicrobe messaging-the growing impact of extracellular vesicles

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Parasitology

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles involved in host-pathogen interactions.
• Current research on pathogen EVs primarily focuses on disease pathogenesis, immune modulation, and diagnostics.
• Limited studies investigate EV-mediated communication between different types of pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the understudied area of transmicrobe communication via EVs.
• To emphasize the relevance of this communication in polymicrobial environments like the gut.
• To explore the potential of targeting transmicrobe EV communication for novel therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on EVs and pathogen interactions.
• Analysis of specific examples of pathogen co-occurrences (gut, blood-borne coinfections, arthropod-pathogen interfaces).
• Conceptual framework development for understanding transmicrobe EV signaling.

Main Results:

• Pathogen-derived EVs play a significant role in host-pathogen interactions.
• EVs facilitate communication between diverse microbes, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and arthropods.
• This communication is crucial in complex environments like the gut and during coinfections.

Conclusions:

• Transmicrobe EV communication represents a critical, yet underappreciated, aspect of infectious disease dynamics.
• Understanding these interactions can reveal novel therapeutic targets for controlling infectious diseases.
• Targeting EV-mediated crosstalk offers potential for new treatments, particularly in coinfection settings.