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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Extracellular Vesicles in Human Infectious Diseases
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Extracellular Vesicles in Human Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 8278

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Natalia Tiberti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Infectious - Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
Interests: Malaria; human African trypanosomiasis; Strongyloidiasis; biomarkers; host–pathogen interaction; extracellular vesicles; immuno-modulation; proteomics
Prof. Dr. Valery Combes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Microvesicles and Malaria Research Group Head, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Interests: severe malaria; extracellular vesicles; biomarkers; host-pathogen interactions; microRNA; proteomics; murine models
Dr. Chiara Piubelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Infectious - Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
Interests: infectious and tropical diseases; molecular biology; molecular diagnostics; 'omics; biomarkers; pathogen pathophysiology; host-pathogen interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and larger membrane-bounded particles like microvesicles, are becoming key players in intercellular communication, being released by all cell types under homeostatic, activated or pathological conditions.

In the field of infectious diseases, EVs play a key role in both inter-pathogen communication and host–pathogen interaction thanks to their unique cargo of nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites and lipids, which they vehiculate between cells. A more in-depth understanding of the functional role of EVs can reveal novel therapeutic targets and vaccine candidates, as well as novel diagnostic or prognostic markers for infectious diseases.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to share the latest advances in the field of EVs, both pathogen- and host-derived, in the context of infectious diseases of clinical interest. The contribution of EVs in opening novel avenues towards the introduction of new diagnostic or prognostic tools as well as the evaluation of vaccine candidates will also be explored.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, review articles and short communications dealing with EVs in infectious diseases of clinical interest are welcome, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasitic diseases, etc. Specific research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Omics and functional characterization of EV cargo;
  • Mechanisms of EV release and uptake;
  • EVs as a source of biomarkers and diagnostic targets;
  • EVs as diagnostic and prognostic tools;
  • EVs and vaccine development.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Natalia Tiberti
Prof. Dr. Valery Combes
Dr. Chiara Piubelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • extracellular vesicles
  • exosomes
  • microvesicles
  • helminths
  • protozoa
  • host-pathogen interaction
  • 'omics
  • microRNA
  • inter-cellular communication
  • biomarkers

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4090 KiB  
Article
The microRNA Cargo of Human Vaginal Extracellular Vesicles Differentiates Parasitic and Pathobiont Infections from Colonization by Homeostatic Bacteria
by Paula Fernandes Tavares Cezar-de-Mello, Stanthia Ryan and Raina N. Fichorova
Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030551 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2497
Abstract
The disturbed vaginal microbiome defined as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the parasitic infection by Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen, have well-established adverse effects on reproductive outcomes and susceptibility to infection and cancer. Molecular mechanisms underlying these associations and [...] Read more.
The disturbed vaginal microbiome defined as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the parasitic infection by Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen, have well-established adverse effects on reproductive outcomes and susceptibility to infection and cancer. Molecular mechanisms underlying these associations and the failure of antibiotic therapy to mitigate adverse consequences are not fully elucidated. In an in vitro human vaginal colonization model, we tested the hypothesis that responses to TV and/or BV-bacteria will disrupt the micro(mi)RNA cargo of extracellular vesicles (EV) with the potential to modify pathways associated with reproductive function, cancer, and infection. miRNAs were quantified by HTG EdgeSeq. MiRNA differential expression (DE) was established in response to TV, the BV signature pathobiont Prevotella bivia and a homeostatic Lactobacillus crispatus with adjusted p < 0.05 using R. Validated gene targets, pathways, protein-protein interaction networks, and hub genes were identified by miRWalk, STRING, Cytoscape, and CytoHubba. In contrast to L. crispatus, TV and the BV pathobiont dysregulated a massive number of EV-miRNAs, over 50% shared by both pathogens. Corresponding target pathways, protein interaction clusters and top hub genes were related to cancer, infectious disease, circadian rhythm, steroid hormone signaling, pregnancy, and reproductive tissue terms. These data support the emerging concept that bacteria and parasitic eukaryotes disturbing the human vaginal microbiome may impact reproductive health through EV-miRNA dysregulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extracellular Vesicles in Human Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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26 pages, 1990 KiB  
Review
Host-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Blood and Tissue Human Protozoan Infections
by Natalia Tiberti, Silvia Stefania Longoni, Valéry Combes and Chiara Piubelli
Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2318; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092318 - 14 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1333
Abstract
Blood and tissue protozoan infections are responsible for an enormous burden in tropical and subtropical regions, even though they can also affect people living in high-income countries, mainly as a consequence of migration and travel. These pathologies are responsible for heavy socio-economic issues [...] Read more.
Blood and tissue protozoan infections are responsible for an enormous burden in tropical and subtropical regions, even though they can also affect people living in high-income countries, mainly as a consequence of migration and travel. These pathologies are responsible for heavy socio-economic issues in endemic countries, where the lack of proper therapeutic interventions and effective vaccine strategies is still hampering their control. Moreover, the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the establishment, progression and outcome of these infectious diseases are yet to be fully described. Among all the players, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have raised significant interest during the last decades due to their capacity to modulate inter–parasite and host–parasite interactions. In the present manuscript, we will review the state of the art of circulating host-derived EVs in clinical samples or in experimental models of human blood and tissue protozoan diseases (i.e., malaria, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis and toxoplasmosis) to gain novel insights into the mechanisms of pathology underlying these conditions and to identify novel potential diagnostic markers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extracellular Vesicles in Human Infectious Diseases)
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17 pages, 988 KiB  
Review
Protozoa-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Intercellular Communication with Special Emphasis on Giardia lamblia
by Bárbara Ferreira, Ágata Lourenço and Maria do Céu Sousa
Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2422; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122422 - 7 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2696
Abstract
Parasitic diseases are an important worldwide problem threatening human health and affect millions of people. Acute diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, malabsorption of nutrients and nutritional deficiency are some of the issues related to intestinal parasitic infections. Parasites are experts in subvert the host immune [...] Read more.
Parasitic diseases are an important worldwide problem threatening human health and affect millions of people. Acute diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, malabsorption of nutrients and nutritional deficiency are some of the issues related to intestinal parasitic infections. Parasites are experts in subvert the host immune system through different kinds of mechanisms. There are evidences that extracellular vesicles (EVs) have an important role in dissemination of the disease and in modulating the host immune system. Released by almost all types of cells, these nanovesicles are a natural secretory product containing multiple components of interest. The EVs are classified as apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, exosomes, ectosomes, and microparticles, according to their physical characteristics, biochemical composition and cell of origin. Interestingly, EVs play an important role in intercellular communication between parasites as well as with the host cells. Concerning Giardia lamblia, it is known that this parasite release EVs during it life cycle that modulate the parasite growth and adherence as well the immune system of the host. Here we review the recently updates on protozoa EVs, with particular emphasis on the role of EVs released by the flagellate protozoa G. lamblia in cellular communication and its potential for future applications as vaccine, therapeutic agent, drug delivery system and as diagnostic or prognostic biomarker. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extracellular Vesicles in Human Infectious Diseases)
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