scholarly journals The benefits of exporting: engineered extracellular vesicles as promising vaccine candidates against enteric fever

2021 ◽  
pp. IAI.00001-21
Author(s):  
Marcio L. Rodrigues

The immunological potential of extracellular vesicles produced by Gram-negative bacteria, the so-called outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs), can be improved by genetic engineering resulting in vesicles containing multiple immunogens. The potential of this approach for the development of a vaccine candidate for enteric fever was recently demonstrated by Gasperini and colleagues. This commentary will discuss the use of OMVs to generate vaccines for enteric fever and the promise of this approach for prevention of other infectious diseases.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiajun Wang ◽  
Rémi Terrasse ◽  
Jayesh Arun Bafna ◽  
Lorraine Benier ◽  
Mathias Winterhalter

Multi-drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is often associated with low permeability of the outer membrane. To investigate the role of membrane channels in the uptake of antibiotics, we extract, purify and reconstitute them into artificial planar membranes. To avoid this time-consuming procedure, here we show a robust approach using fusion of native outer membrane vesicles (OMV) into planar lipid bilayer which moreover allows also to some extend the characterization of membrane protein channels in their native environment. Two major membrane channels from <i>Escherichia coli</i>, OmpF and OmpC, were overexpressed from the host and the corresponding OMVs were collected. Each OMV fusion revealed surprisingly single or only few channel activities. The asymmetry of the OMV´s translates after fusion into the lipid membrane with the LPS dominantly present at the side of OMV addition. Compared to conventional reconstitution methods, the channels fused from OMVs containing LPS have similar conductance but a much broader distribution. The addition of Enrofloxacin on the LPS side yields somewhat higher association (<i>k<sub>on</sub></i>) and lower dissociation (<i>k<sub>off</sub></i>) rates compared to LPS-free reconstitution. We conclude that using outer membrane vesicles is a fast and easy approach for functional and structural studies of membrane channels in the native membrane.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3858
Author(s):  
Felix Behrens ◽  
Teresa C. Funk-Hilsdorf ◽  
Wolfgang M. Kuebler ◽  
Szandor Simmons

Pneumonia due to respiratory infection with most prominently bacteria, but also viruses, fungi, or parasites is the leading cause of death worldwide among all infectious disease in both adults and infants. The introduction of modern antibiotic treatment regimens and vaccine strategies has helped to lower the burden of bacterial pneumonia, yet due to the unavailability or refusal of vaccines and antimicrobials in parts of the global population, the rise of multidrug resistant pathogens, and high fatality rates even in patients treated with appropriate antibiotics pneumonia remains a global threat. As such, a better understanding of pathogen virulence on the one, and the development of innovative vaccine strategies on the other hand are once again in dire need in the perennial fight of men against microbes. Recent data show that the secretome of bacteria consists not only of soluble mediators of virulence but also to a significant proportion of extracellular vesicles—lipid bilayer-delimited particles that form integral mediators of intercellular communication. Extracellular vesicles are released from cells of all kinds of organisms, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in which case they are commonly termed outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and membrane vesicles (MVs), respectively. (O)MVs can trigger inflammatory responses to specific pathogens including S. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, and L. pneumophila and as such, mediate bacterial virulence in pneumonia by challenging the host respiratory epithelium and cellular and humoral immunity. In parallel, however, (O)MVs have recently emerged as auspicious vaccine candidates due to their natural antigenicity and favorable biochemical properties. First studies highlight the efficacy of such vaccines in animal models exposed to (O)MVs from B. pertussis, S. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and K. pneumoniae. An advanced and balanced recognition of both the detrimental effects of (O)MVs and their immunogenic potential could pave the way to novel treatment strategies in pneumonia and effective preventive approaches.


2017 ◽  
Vol 199 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan B. Lynch ◽  
Rosanna A. Alegado

ABSTRACT Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are proteoliposome nanoparticles ubiquitously produced by Gram-negative bacteria. Typically bearing a composition similar to those of the outer membrane and periplasm of the cells from which they are derived, OMVs package an array of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Once considered inconsequential by-products of bacterial growth, OMVs have since been demonstrated to mediate cellular stress relief, promote horizontal gene transfer and antimicrobial activity, and elicit metazoan inflammation. Recently, OMVs have gained appreciation as critical moderators of interorganismal dynamics. In this review, we focus on recent progress toward understanding the functions of OMVs with regard to symbiosis and ecological contexts, and we propose potential avenues for future OMV studies.


Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (10) ◽  
pp. 2109-2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heramb M. Kulkarni ◽  
Medicharla V. Jagannadham

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released from Gram-negative bacteria consist of lipids, proteins, lipopolysaccharides and other molecules. OMVs are associated with several biological functions such as horizontal gene transfer, intracellular and intercellular communication, transfer of contents to host cells, and eliciting an immune response in host cells. Although hypotheses have been made concerning the mechanism of biogenesis of these vesicles, research on OMV formation is far from complete. The roles of outer membrane components, bacterial quorum sensing molecules and some specific proteins in OMV biogenesis have been studied. This review discusses the different models that have been proposed for OMV biogenesis, along with details of the biological functions of OMVs and the likely scope of future research.


Author(s):  
Carlos Fernando Macedo da Silva ◽  
Marcelo Lancellotti

Multi-resistance to antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria has been reported in several studies, which make more effective methods of controlling and eliminating these bacteria necessary. To overcome multiresistant profiles, we used OMVs (Outer Membrane Vesicles) as carriers of levofloxacin to encapsulate and transport the drug from the extracellular medium into the cell, overcoming resistance barriers and inhibiting cell reproduction machinery. Prepackaged formulations in this manner were quite effective and, in some cases, totally inhibited bacterial growth by making the drug efficient again.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Noemi Furuyama ◽  
Marcelo Palma Sircili

Gram-negative bacteria produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) with 10 to 300 nm of diameter. The contribution of OMVs to bacterial pathogenesis is a topic of great interest, and their capacity to be combined with antigens impact in the future to the development of vaccines.


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