Extracellular vesicles (EVs), of diverse origin and content, are membranous structures secreted by a broad range of cell types. Recent advances in molecular biology have highlighted the pivotal role of EVs in mediating intercellular communication, facilitated by their ability to transport a diverse range of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, DNA, RNA and metabolites. A striking feature of EVs is their ability to exert dual effects during viral infections, involving both proviral and antiviral effects. This review explores the dual roles of EVs, particularly in the context of pandemic viruses such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. On the one hand, EVs can enhance viral replication and exacerbate pathogenesis by transferring viral components to susceptible cells. On the other hand, they have intrinsic antiviral properties, including activation of immune responses and direct inhibition of viral infection. By exploring these contrasting functions, our review emphasizes the complexity of EV-mediated interactions in viral pathogenesis and highlights their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention. The insights obtained from investigating EVs in the context of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 provide a deeper understanding of viral mechanisms and pathologies, and offer a new perspective on managing and mitigating the impact of these global health challenges.
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Ribosomes composed of genome-encoded heterogeneous
rRNAs are implicated in the rapid adaptation of bacterial
cells to environmental changes. A previous study showed that
ribosomes bearing the most heterogeneous rRNAs expressed
from the rrnI operon (I-ribosomes) are implicated in the preferential
translation of a subset of mRNAs, including hspA
and tpiA, in Vibrio vulnificus CMCP6. In this study, we show
that HspA nascent peptides were predominantly bound to
I-ribosomes. Specifically, I-ribosomes were enriched more
than two-fold in ribosomes that were pulled down by immunoprecipitation
of HspA peptides compared with the proportion
of I-ribosomes in crude ribosomes and ribosomes pulled
down by immunoprecipitation of RNA polymerase subunit
ß peptides in the wild-type (WT) and rrnI-completed strains.
Other methods that utilized the incorporation of an affinity
tag in 23S rRNA or chimeric rRNA tethering 16S and 23S
rRNAs, which generated specialized functional ribosomes
in Escherichia coli, did not result in functional I-ribosomes
in V. vulnificus CMCP6. This study provides direct evidence
of the preferential translation of hspA mRNA by I-ribosomes.
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Functional conservation of specialized ribosomes bearing genome-encoded variant rRNAs in Vibrio species Younkyung Choi, Eunkyoung Shin, Minho Lee, Ji-Hyun Yeom, Kangseok Lee, Bashir Sajo Mienda PLOS ONE.2023; 18(12): e0289072. CrossRef
Relaxed Cleavage Specificity of Hyperactive Variants of Escherichia coli RNase E on RNA I Dayeong Bae, Hana Hyeon, Eunkyoung Shin, Ji-Hyun Yeom, Kangseok Lee Journal of Microbiology.2023; 61(2): 211. CrossRef