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<p>Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to mediate intercellular communication, virulence, and immune modulation. Here we show that bacteria can utilise EVs also as recyclable nutrient reservoirs. Using <i>Bacillus cereus</i> as a model organism, we demonstrate that EVs exhibit distinct dynamics depending on growth conditions: EVs produced in complex nutrient-rich media undergo time-dependent degradation, while those produced in defined nutrient-limited conditions remain stable and accumulate. We observe similar EV degradation patterns in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Time-resolved multi-omics profiling reveals that EVs containing the lipid sphingomyelin undergo progressive degradation. Using pharmacological inhibition, knockout mutants, and enzymatic complementation, we show that this process is driven by secreted sphingomyelinase (SMase). This enzyme contributes to degradation of sphingomyelin-containing EVs, thereby releasing their biomolecular cargo which can be used as a nutrient source. Growth assays confirm that SMase-mediated EV degradation provides a growth advantage when nutrients become depleted, thus establishing EVs as dynamic nutrient reservoirs.</p>

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Bacterial extracellular vesicles as recyclable nutrient reservoirs

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月6日

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  • Astrid Laimer-Digruber,
  • Tanja V. Edelbacher,
  • Masoumeh Alinaghi,
  • Mia S. C. Yu,
  • Dapi Menglin Chiang,
  • Benedikt Kirchner,
  • Susanne I. Wudy,
  • Waltraud Tschulenk,
  • Ingrid Walter,
  • Stefan Kummer,
  • Christina Ludwig,
  • Jan Přibyl,
  • Michael W. Pfaffl,
  • Monika Ehling-Schulz

摘要

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to mediate intercellular communication, virulence, and immune modulation. Here we show that bacteria can utilise EVs also as recyclable nutrient reservoirs. Using Bacillus cereus as a model organism, we demonstrate that EVs exhibit distinct dynamics depending on growth conditions: EVs produced in complex nutrient-rich media undergo time-dependent degradation, while those produced in defined nutrient-limited conditions remain stable and accumulate. We observe similar EV degradation patterns in Staphylococcus aureus. Time-resolved multi-omics profiling reveals that EVs containing the lipid sphingomyelin undergo progressive degradation. Using pharmacological inhibition, knockout mutants, and enzymatic complementation, we show that this process is driven by secreted sphingomyelinase (SMase). This enzyme contributes to degradation of sphingomyelin-containing EVs, thereby releasing their biomolecular cargo which can be used as a nutrient source. Growth assays confirm that SMase-mediated EV degradation provides a growth advantage when nutrients become depleted, thus establishing EVs as dynamic nutrient reservoirs.