Mucus-derived exosome-like vesicles from the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris): taking advantage of invasive pest species in biotechnology

Abstract

The slug Arion vulgaris has attracted major attention as one of the worst invasive herbivore pests in Europe and is renowned for the stiff mucus it secretes for locomotion. In this study we focused on the isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles, specifically exosomes and exosome-like vesicles, from Arion secretions. We developed a method for slug mucus collection and subsequent vesicle isolation by ultracentrifugation. The isolated vesicles with an average diameter of ~ 100 nm carry abundant proteins and short RNAs, as well as adhesion molecules similar to mammalian galectins. We demonstrated that the slug extracellular vesicles are internalised by plant cells and human cancer cells in in vitro assays and are loadable by bioactive compounds, which makes them an interesting tool for utilisation in biotechnology.

Gastropod Mucus: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biological Activities, Applications, and Strategic Priorities

“…59 Additionally, extracellular vesicles derived from Arion vulgaris mucus were successfully loaded with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. Using in vitro internalization assays, it was demonstrated that these vesicles can penetrate human glioblastoma cells, 60 highlighting opportunities for targeted cancer therapy.…”

“…These findings open up intriguing possibilities for their use in pest management strategies and broader applications within the field of plant biotechnology. 60 Realizing the promising biotechnological potential of gastropod mucus requires moving beyond speculative possibilities to critically evaluate its technical viability based on current research. For instance, developing mucus-based medical adhesives demands greater detail on methods for the isolation and engineering of adhesive proteins like those studied in Arion subf uscus 6 and marsh periwinkle mucus.…”

“…Extracellular vesicles derived from the mucus of A. vulgaris demonstrated the ability to be loaded with agents and internalized by plant cells under in vitro conditions. These findings open up intriguing possibilities for their use in pest management strategies and broader applications within the field of plant biotechnology …”

Bridging the extracellular vesicle knowledge gap: insights from non-mammalian vertebrates, invertebrates, and early-diverging metazoans

“…Comparative sequencing suggested involvement in shell pigmentation. Mucus from the invasive slug Arion vulgaris contained abundant EVs, which could be internalised by plant and human cells and loaded with chemotherapy agents ( Liegertová et al, 2022 ).…”