Bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs) are functional, non-toxic amyloids occurring in recombinant bacteria showing analogies with secretory granules of the mammalian endocrine system. The scientific interest in these mesoscale protein aggregates has been historically masked by their status as a hurdle in recombinant protein production. However, progressive understanding of how the cell handles the quality of recombinant polypeptides and the main features of their intriguing molecular organization has stimulated the interest in inclusion bodies and spurred their use in diverse technological fields. The engineering and tailoring of IBs as functional protein particles for materials science and biomedicine is a good example of how formerly undesired bacterial byproducts can be rediscovered as promising functional materials for a broad spectrum of applications.

细菌包涵体（IBs）是重组细菌中存在的功能性，无毒淀粉样蛋白，显示出与哺乳动物内分泌系统分泌颗粒的相似性。从历史上看，这些中尺度蛋白质聚集体的科学兴趣已被其作为重组蛋白质生产障碍的地位所掩盖。然而，对细胞如何处理重组多肽的质量及其有趣的分子组织的主要特征的逐步了解激起了对包涵体的兴趣，并刺激了它们在不同技术领域的应用。