Tiny Can Be Big: The Contribution of Microbial Extracellular Vesicles to Host-Pathogen Interactions
type: CreativeWork
description: The human vagina hosts a microbiome formed by dense numbers of diverse bacterial species which can be categorised based on their species diversity. Despite the variation, the low-diversity communities (i.e. a dominant single species of Lactobacillus) is understood to represent the microbiota of healthy premenopausal women. The diversified community, on the other hand, is formed mostly by anaerobic microorganisms with several species that are associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is a polymicrobial condition that develops due to the imbalance of the microbiome and is linked to a higher risk of acquiring other genital infections, including the infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. This flagellated protozoan is a causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the world’s most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections. The co-existence of these pro- and eukaryotic microorganisms (i.e. bacteria and protozoan) in the vagina, as revealed by metagenomics, suggests a functional relationship between vaginal microbiomes and this pathogen. Indeed, previous research from our group has shown that microbiome-parasite interactions directly modulate pathogenesis. Therefore, in this thesis, I envisaged that these microorganisms should engage in some kind of communication between themselves and with the host. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now a recognised mechanism for cell-to-cell communication. They serve as a vehicle for the delivery of bioactive molecules. Once taken up by the target cells, EVs can elicit functional responses and promote phenotypic changes affecting physiological or pathological status. This study proposed that EVs might be an important component of the intercellular and interkingdom communication among the triad parasite-bacteria-human. Here, I have explored whether these microorganisms produce EVs, examined their molecular cargoes and evaluated how the delivery of microbial EVs may alter host and pathogen responses. T. vaginalis has…
abstract: The human vagina hosts a microbiome formed by dense numbers of diverse bacterial species which can be categorised based on their species diversity. Despite the variation, the low-diversity communities (i.e. a dominant single species of Lactobacillus) is understood to represent the microbiota of healthy premenopausal women. The diversified community, on the other hand, is formed mostly by anaerobic microorganisms with several species that are associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is a polymicrobial condition that develops due to the imbalance of the microbiome and is linked to a higher risk of acquiring other genital infections, including the infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. This flagellated protozoan is a causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the world’s most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections. The co-existence of these pro- and eukaryotic microorganisms (i.e. bacteria and protozoan) in the vagina, as revealed by metagenomics, suggests a functional relationship between vaginal microbiomes and this pathogen. Indeed, previous research from our group has shown that microbiome-parasite interactions directly modulate pathogenesis. Therefore, in this thesis, I envisaged that these microorganisms should engage in some kind of communication between themselves and with the host. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now a recognised mechanism for cell-to-cell communication. They serve as a vehicle for the delivery of bioactive molecules. Once taken up by the target cells, EVs can elicit functional responses and promote phenotypic changes affecting physiological or pathological status. This study proposed that EVs might be an important component of the intercellular and interkingdom communication among the triad parasite-bacteria-human. Here, I have explored whether these microorganisms produce EVs, examined their molecular cargoes and evaluated how the delivery of microbial EVs may alter host and pathogen responses. T. vaginalis has…
author: Artuyants, Anastasiia
license: https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm
date published: 2021
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:02:59Z
provider: University of Auckland
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: ResearchSpace@Auckland

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/2292/57071