Extracellular Vesicles and Bacteriophages: New Directions in Environmental Biocolloid Research

Abstract

There is a long-standing appreciation among environmental engineers and scientists regarding the importance of biologically derived colloidal particles and their environmental fate. This interest has been recently renewed in considering bacteriophages and extracellular vesicles, which are each poised to offer engineers unique insights into fundamental aspects of environmental microbiology and novel approaches for engineering applications, including advances in wastewater treatment and sustainable agricultural practices. Challenges persist due to our limited understanding of interactions between these nanoscale particles with unique surface properties and their local environments. This review considers these biological particles through the lens of colloid science with attention given to their environmental impact and surface properties. We discuss methods developed for the study of inert (nonbiological) particle–particle interactions and the potential to use these to advance our understanding of the environmental fate and transport of extracellular vesicles and bacteriophages.

Unveiling the Secrets of Extracellular Vesicles in Urban Water Systems: Understanding the Link Between Human and Environmental Health

“…In urban rivers, microorganisms exchange genetic material and molecular information via EVs 19 , aiding diverse species to adapt and survive challenging environments [20][21][22][23] . The transfer of EV cargo can increase the genetic diversity of microorganisms 24,25 , which may enhance their ability to withstand pollutants and other stressors commonly encountered in urban waterways 26 . Early studies have demonstrated that Prochlorococcus, a prevalent marine cyanobacterium, releases EVs containing proteins, DNA, and RNA.…”