Bacterial extracellular vesicles as players in biofilm dynamics and community interactions.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) play crucial roles in biofilm dynamics, community interactions, and communication, with their production influenced by biofilm conditions.

• Why it matters: Understanding bEVs is vital because they facilitate safe cargo delivery across distances, impacting bacterial survival, community structure, and potential biotechnological applications.
• What they did: The review synthesizes foundational planktonic studies and recent research on bEVs in complex biofilm communities, focusing on their biogenesis, production circumstances, and functions.
• The result: Findings highlight bEVs' roles in matrix remodeling, metabolism, organization, and defense, revealing their versatility as key contributors to bacterial community life and promising biologic tools.