Challenges posed by extracellular vesicles from eukaryotic microbes

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2014 Dec:22:73-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.09.012.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EV) produced by eukaryotic microbes play an important role during infection. EV release is thought to benefit microbial invasion by delivering a high concentration of virulence factors to distal host cells or to the cytoplasm of a host cell. EV can significantly impact the outcome of host–pathogen interaction in a cargo-dependent manner. Release of EV from eukaryotic microbes poses unique challenges when compared to their bacterial or archaeal counterparts. Firstly, the membrane-bound organelles within eukaryotes facilitate multiple mechanisms of vesicle generation. Secondly, the fungal cell wall poses a unique barrier between the vesicle release site at the plasma membrane and its destined extracellular environment. This review focuses on these eukaryotic-specific aspects of vesicle synthesis and release.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Eukaryota / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Fungi / metabolism
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism*