Characterization of Kluyveromyces marxianus Extracellular Vesicles as a New Potential Delivery System for Biologically Active Compounds
4 affiliations
- 1Chair of Drug and Cosmetics Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
- 2Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland
- 3Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- 4Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by probiotic microorganisms may be involved in intercellular communication via transferring their cargo to other cells. Hence, there is growing interest in their application as a drug delivery system. This article presents studies on EVs secreted by three strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus (B0399, WUT240, and WUT216) under standard growth conditions and in fluids simulating a gastrointestinal environment. Nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical EVs with modal diameters ranging from 79.8 to 148.2 nm, depending on the growth conditions. Research conducted on human intestinal cell lines did not reveal cytotoxic effects of EVs. Moreover, EVs exhibited mild antioxidant properties in normal cells. K. marxianus EVs did not stimulate the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in the HT-29 model but induced a tailored immunomodulatory response in Galleria mellonella hemocytes, characterized by elevated levels of IL-8-like proteins in the absence of a TNF-α-like response. Proteomic analysis identified 161 core proteins common to all strains, yielding 33 potential biomarkers lacking significant human homology, which would be useful for tracking yeast EV carriers in subsequent studies. In addition, yeast EVs were found to have a high affinity for human cells, transporting biologically active molecules (doxorubicin) and the Nile Red dye into recipient cells. Altogether, this study provides clear evidence that the EVs of K. marxianus could be considered a drug delivery system.
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BibTeX
@article{rogalska2026characterization,
title = {{Characterization of Kluyveromyces marxianus Extracellular Vesicles as a New Potential Delivery System for Biologically Active Compounds}},
author = {Marta Rogalska and Katarzyna Kmita and Anna Katarzyna Wrońska and Aleksander Gryciuk and Ewa Sitkiewicz and Magdalena Bakun and Magdalena Świadek and Małgorzata Milner-Krawczyk and Jolanta Mierzejewska},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209259},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9259},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Characterization of Kluyveromyces marxianus Extracellular Vesicles as a New Potential Delivery System for Biologically Active Compounds
AU - Marta Rogalska
AU - Katarzyna Kmita
AU - Anna Katarzyna Wrońska
AU - Aleksander Gryciuk
AU - Ewa Sitkiewicz
AU - Magdalena Bakun
AU - Magdalena Świadek
AU - Małgorzata Milner-Krawczyk
AU - Jolanta Mierzejewska
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209259
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9259
AB - Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by probiotic microorganisms may be involved in intercellular communication via transferring their cargo to other cells. Hence, there is growing interest in their application as a drug delivery system. This article presents studies on EVs secreted by three strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus (B0399, WUT240, and WUT216) under standard growth conditions and in fluids simulating a gastrointestinal environment. Nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical EVs with modal diameters ranging from 79.8 to 148.2 nm, depending on the growth conditions. Research conducted on human intestinal cell lines did not reveal cytotoxic effects of EVs. Moreover, EVs exhibited mild antioxidant properties in normal cells. K. marxianus EVs did not stimulate the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in the HT-29 model but induced a tailored immunomodulatory response in Galleria mellonella hemocytes, characterized by elevated levels of IL-8-like proteins in the absence of a TNF-α-like response. Proteomic analysis identified 161 core proteins common to all strains, yielding 33 potential biomarkers lacking significant human homology, which would be useful for tracking yeast EV carriers in subsequent studies. In addition, yeast EVs were found to have a high affinity for human cells, transporting biologically active molecules (doxorubicin) and the Nile Red dye into recipient cells. Altogether, this study provides clear evidence that the EVs of K. marxianus could be considered a drug delivery system.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -