Abstract
Many bacteria secrete spherical membranal nanoparticles from bacterial surface to extracellular milieu. These liposome– like particles are called as “outer membrane vesicles (OMVs)” or “membrane vesicles (MVs)”. They have important roles in several biological functions, including pathogenesis, microbial interaction, horizontal gene transfer and efflux of cellular substances. Recent studies have indicated that microbial vesicles have prospective potentials for applications such as therapeutic vaccines and drug delivery systems. In this review, I show the current understanding of vesicle functions, biogenesis and applications.
