Characterisation and innate immune effects of bacterial outer membrane vesicles

Bacteria produce tiny "grenades" known as outer membrane vesicles, or OMVs. OMVs are transported into human cells where they can manipulate the immune system to the bacteria's advantage. The first part of this study showed that OMVs carry bacterial DNA that is transported into human cells and is detectable in the nucleus. The second part of this study showed that OMVs from the bacteria Pseudomonas, a common antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infection, trigger a potent inflammatory response that may be involved in septic shock. Together, these findings give insight into the role of outer membrane vesicles in bacterial communication and disease progression.