Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
Biomolecules. 2023 Oct 6;13(10):1487. doi: 10.3390/biom13101487.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicular organelles that perform a variety of biological functions including cell communication across different biological kingdoms. EVs of mammals and, to a lesser extent, bacteria have been deeply studied over the years, whereas investigations of fungal EVs are still in their infancy. Fungi, encompassing both yeast and filamentous forms, are increasingly recognized for their production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a wealth of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These EVs play pivotal roles in orchestrating fungal communities, bolstering pathogenicity, and mediating interactions with the environment. Fungal EVs have emerged as promising candidates for innovative applications, not only in the management of mycoses but also as carriers for therapeutic molecules. Yet, numerous questions persist regarding fungal EVs, including their mechanisms of generation, release, cargo regulation, and discharge. This comprehensive review delves into the present state of knowledge regarding fungal EVs and provides fresh insights into the most recent hypotheses on the mechanisms driving their immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, we explore the considerable potential of fungal EVs in the realms of medicine and biotechnology. In the foreseeable future, engineered fungal cells may serve as vehicles for tailoring cargo- and antigen-specific EVs, positioning them as invaluable biotechnological tools for diverse medical applications, such as vaccines and drug delivery.
细胞外囊泡 (EVs) 是一种具有多种生物学功能的膜性囊泡细胞器，包括在不同生物界之间进行细胞通讯。多年来，哺乳动物的 EVs 得到了深入研究，而细菌的 EVs 研究仍处于起步阶段。真菌，包括酵母和丝状形式，越来越被认为是细胞外囊泡 (EVs) 的产生者，这些 EVs 含有丰富的蛋白质、脂质和核酸。这些 EVs 在协调真菌群落、增强致病性以及介导与环境的相互作用方面发挥着关键作用。真菌 EVs 已成为创新应用的有前途的候选者，不仅在真菌感染的管理中，而且作为治疗分子的载体。然而，关于真菌 EVs 仍存在许多问题，包括它们的产生、释放、货物调节和排出的机制。本综述深入探讨了真菌 EVs 的现状，并提供了对驱动其免疫调节特性的最新假说的新见解。此外，我们探讨了真菌 EVs 在医学和生物技术领域的巨大潜力。在可预见的未来，工程化的真菌细胞可能成为定制货物和抗原特异性 EVs 的载体，使它们成为各种医学应用（如疫苗和药物输送）的宝贵生物技术工具。
