Extracellular Vesicles from Probiotic and Beneficial Escherichia coli Strains Exert Multifaceted Protective Effects Against Rotavirus Infection in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Rotavirus remains a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritisin infants worldwide. The suboptimal efficacy of current vaccines underscores the needfor alternative microbiome-based interventions, including postbiotics. Extracellularvesicles (EVs) from probiotic and commensal <em>E. coli</e...
| Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
| Repository: | Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:recercat.cat:2445/225945 |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/2445/225945 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Probiòtics Microbiota intestinal Gastroenteritis Malalties intestinals Probiotics Gastrointestinal microbiome Intestinal diseases |
| Summary: | Rotavirus remains a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritisin infants worldwide. The suboptimal efficacy of current vaccines underscores the needfor alternative microbiome-based interventions, including postbiotics. Extracellularvesicles (EVs) from probiotic and commensal <em>E. coli</em> strains have been shown to mitigatediarrhea and enhance immune responses in a suckling-rat model of rotavirus infection.Here, we investigate the regulatory mechanisms activated by EVs in rotavirus-infectedenterocytes. <strong>Methods: </strong>Polarized Caco-2 monolayers were used as a model of matureenterocytes. Cells were pre-incubated with EVs from the probiotic <em>E. coli</em> Nissle 1917 (EcN)or the commensal EcoR12 strain before rotavirus infection. Intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup>concentration, ROS levels, and the expression of immune- and barrier-related genes andproteins were assessed at multiple time points post-infection. <strong>Results:</strong> EVs from bothstrains exerted broad protective effects against rotavirus-induced cellular dysregulation,with several responses being strain-specific. EVs interfered with viral replication bycounteracting host cellular processes essential for rotavirus propagation. Specifically, EVtreatment significantly reduced rotavirus-induced intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> mobilization, ROSproduction, and COX-2 expression. In addition, both EV types reduced virus-inducedmucin secretion and preserved tight junction organization, thereby limiting viral accessto basolateral coreceptors. Additionally, EVs enhanced innate antiviral defenses viadistinct, strain-dependent pathways: EcN EVs amplified IL-8-mediated responses,whereas EcoR12 EVs preserved the expression of interferon-related signaling genes.<strong>Conclusions:</strong> EVs from EcN and EcoR12 act through multiple complementarymechanisms to restrict rotavirus replication, spread, and immune evasion. These findingssupport their potential as effective postbiotic candidates for preventing or treatingrotavirus infection. |
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