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Review
. 2018 Jun 1;76(4):fty031.
doi: 10.1093/femspd/fty031.

Mycobacterial extracellular vesicles and host pathogen interactions

Shamba Gupta  1 , G Marcela Rodriguez  1
Affiliations
Review

Mycobacterial extracellular vesicles and host pathogen interactions

Shamba Gupta et al. Pathog Dis. .

Abstract

Mycobacteria, like other bacteria, archaea and eukaryotic cells, naturally release extracellular vesicles (EVs) to interact with their environment. EVs produced by pathogenic bacteria are involved in many activities including cell-cell communication, immunomodulation, virulence and cell survival. Although EVs released by thick cell wall microorganisms like mycobacteria were recognized only recently, studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis EVs already point to their important roles in host pathogen interactions, opening exciting new areas of investigation. This minireview will summarize the current understanding of mycobacterial EV biology and roles in pathogenesis and will discuss their potential therapeutic applications.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Roles of MEVs in TB pathogenesis: MEVs function in iron acquisition, immunomodulation and virulence. Secretion of mycobactin in MEVs may protect this siderophore from siderocalin and allow M. tuberculosis access to Fe available in hydrophobic, distal places. MEVs modulate immune responses in dendritic cells (DC), macrophages (Mac) and T-cells via transfer of microbial antigens, TLR2 agonist and immune active molecules such as LAM. MEVs produced by M. ulcerans contain mycolactone and are highly cytotoxic demonstrating a direct role of MEVs in virulence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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