Extracellular Vesicles for Biomarkers and Targeted Therapies

The first major research stream focuses on host extracellular vesicles (EVs), small membrane-bound particles released by cells that carry proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. During bacterial infections, EVs become rich repositories of both host and pathogen signatures. The laboratory has shown that pneumococcal infection induces distinct EV populations that package bacterial antigens along with immune-response proteins. These EVs actively participate in shaping the host response rather than passively carrying cargo alone. Their cargo reflects disease state, severity, and tissue involvement, making them valuable candidates for biomarker discovery. Moreover, because EVs naturally deliver biological material to immune cells, they offer an attractive platform for presenting antigens or modulating immunity in a controlled way. This work forms the basis of ongoing efforts to identify EV-derived diagnostic markers and to engineer EVs as next-generation immunotherapeutic tools.