Horizontal gene transfer and beyond: the delivery of biological matter by bacterial membrane vesicles to host and bacterial cells

Abstract

Membrane vesicles (MVs) are produced in all domains of life. In eukaryotes, extracellular vesicles have been shown to mediate the horizontal transfer of biological material between cells [1]. Therefore, bacterial MVs are also thought to mediate horizontal material transfer to host cells and other bacteria, especially in the context of cell stress. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of bacterial MV production, evidence that their contents can be trafficked to host cells and other bacteria, and the biological relevance of horizontal material transfer by bacterial MVs.