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Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of extracellular vesicles produced by human gut archaea

Author

Listed:
  • Viktoria Weinberger

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Barbara Darnhofer

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Himadri B. Thapa

    (University of Graz)

  • Polona Mertelj

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Régis Stentz

    (Quadram Institute Bioscience)

  • Emily Jones

    (Quadram Institute Bioscience)

  • Gerlinde Grabmann

    (Metabolomics)

  • Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Tejus Shinde

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Christina Karner

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Jennifer Ober

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Rokas Juodeikis

    (Quadram Institute Bioscience)

  • Dominique Pernitsch

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Kerstin Hingerl

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Tamara Zurabishvili

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Christina Kumpitsch

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Torben Kuehnast

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Beate Rinner

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Heimo Strohmaier

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Dagmar Kolb

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Kathryn Gotts

    (Quadram Institute Bioscience)

  • Thomas Weichhart

    (Medical University of Vienna)

  • Thomas Köcher

    (Metabolomics)

  • Harald Köfeler

    (Medical University of Graz)

  • Simon R. Carding

    (Quadram Institute Bioscience
    University East Anglia)

  • Stefan Schild

    (University of Graz
    Field of Excellence Biohealth – University of Graz
    BioTechMed)

  • Christine Moissl-Eichinger

    (Medical University of Graz
    BioTechMed)

Abstract

Gastrointestinal bacteria interact with the host and each other through various mechanisms, including the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the composition and potential roles of EVs released by gut archaea are poorly understood. Here, we study EVs produced by four strains of human gut-derived methanogenic archaea: Methanobrevibacter smithii ALI, M. smithii GRAZ-2, M. intestini, and Methanosphaera stadtmanae. The size (~130 nm) and morphology of these EVs are comparable to those of bacterial EVs. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses reveal that the archaeal EVs are enriched in putative adhesins or adhesin-like proteins, free glutamic and aspartic acid, and choline glycerophosphate. The archaeal EVs are taken up by macrophages in vitro and elicit species-specific responses in immune and epithelial cell lines, including production of chemokines such as CXCL9, CXCL11, and CX3CL1. The EVs produced by M. intestini strongly induce pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in epithelial cells. Future work should examine whether archaeal EVs play roles in the interactions of archaea with other gut microbes and with the host.

Suggested Citation

  • Viktoria Weinberger & Barbara Darnhofer & Himadri B. Thapa & Polona Mertelj & Régis Stentz & Emily Jones & Gerlinde Grabmann & Rokhsareh Mohammadzadeh & Tejus Shinde & Christina Karner & Jennifer Ober, 2025. "Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of extracellular vesicles produced by human gut archaea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60271-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60271-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leland Wilkinson, 2011. "ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis by WICKHAM, H," Biometrics, The International Biometric Society, vol. 67(2), pages 678-679, June.
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