Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles: Bridging Pathogen Biology and Therapeutic Innovation

The main role of bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) has been associated with various processes such as intercellular communication and host-pathogen interactions. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted functions of BEVs across different biological domains, emphasizing their multifaceted functions as contributors both to disease and as carriers of therapeutic possibilities. We examine the intricate interactions of BEVs within bacterial communities and between bacteria and hosts, their involvement in disease development through cargo delivery mechanisms, and their beneficial impact to microbial ecology. The review places a strong emphasis on BEVs' applications in biomedical sciences, where they are revolutionizing vaccine development, targeted drug delivery, and cancer therapy. By utilizing the inherent properties of BEVs for controlled drug release, targeted antigen delivery, and immune modulation, they offer a promising frontier in precision medicine. In addition, the diagnostic potential of BEVs is explored through their biomarker capabilities, providing valuable insights into disease states and treatment efficacy. Looking forward, this review underscores the challenges and opportunities in translating BEV research to clinical practice, promoting the use of standardized methods in BEV characterization and scaling up production. The diverse abilities of BEVs, ranging from contributing to pathogen virulence to driving therapeutic innovation, highlight their potential as a cornerstone in the future of biomedical advancements. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are emerging as pivotal players in both pathogenesis and therapeutic innovation. This review explores their dual nature as agents of disease and as promising biomaterials in biomedical applications, and provides a comprehensive survey on their involvement in disease mechanisms and microbial ecology, and their potential in biomedical applications such as vaccine development, targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy and diagnosis. It highlights the complex interactions of BEVs within bacterial communities and between bacteria and hosts. This review also addresses current advancements, challenges, and opportunities in translating BEV research into clinical practice. The insights presented here position BEVs as a cornerstone in the future of biomedical advancements, advocating for standardized methods in BEV characterization and scalable production techniques.