Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by Trichomonas vaginalis are now recognized as important mediators of host-parasite communication and play crucial roles in the development of trichomoniasis. These membrane-enclosed vesicles, which include exosomes and microvesicles, carry a diverse array of cargo, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as virulence-associated components such as adhesion molecules, proteases, and tRNA-derived small RNAs. Functionally, EVs enhance parasite attachment to vaginal epithelial cells, facilitate colonization, and contribute to host tissue damage. They also influence host immune responses, exhibiting both pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities. Furthermore, the composition of EVs can be modulated by endosymbionts such as Trichomonasvirus, thereby influencing host-pathogen interactions. In addition, EVs mediate parasite-parasite communication, thereby promoting parasite adaptation and survival. This review summarizes current knowledge on the composition and functional roles of T. vaginalis EVs, highlighting their involvement in adhesion, immune modulation, and infection, as well as their potential utility as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent illness of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of IBD traditionally involves the use of aminosalicylic acid and steroids, while these drugs has been associated with untoward effects and refractoriness. The absence of effective treatment regimen against IBD has led to the exploration of new targets. Parasites are promising as an alternative therapy for IBD. Recent studies have highlighted the use of parasite-derived substances, such as excretory secretory products, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and exosomes, for the treatment of IBD. In this report, we examined whether EVs secreted by Giardia lamblia could prevent colitis in a mouse model. G. lamblia EVs (GlEVs) were prepared from in vitro cultures of Giardia trophozoites. Clinical signs, microscopic colon tissue inflammation, and cytokine expression levels were detected to assess the effect of GlEV treatment on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental murine colitis. The administration of GlEVs prior to DSS challenge reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interferon gamma. Our results indicate that GlEV can exert preventive effects and possess therapeutic properties against DSS-induced colitis.
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