Although the study of helminth-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) is in its infancy, proteomic studies of EVs from representatives of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes have identified homologs of mammalian EV proteins including components of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport and heat-shock proteins, suggesting conservation of pathways of EV biogenesis and cargo loading between helminths and their hosts. However, parasitic helminth biology is unique and this is likely reflected in helminth EV composition and biological activity. This opinion article highlights two exceptional studies that identified EVs released by Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Fasciola hepatica which display differential lipid and glycan composition, respectively, when compared with EVs derived from mammalian cells. Furthermore, we discuss the potential implications of helminth EV lipid and glycan composition upon helminth infection and host pathology. Future studies, focusing on the unique composition and functional properties of helminth EVs, may prove crucial to the understanding of host-parasite communication.

尽管蠕虫来源的细胞外囊泡（EVs）的研究尚处于起步阶段，但线虫，节和吸虫线虫代表对EV的蛋白质组学研究已经确定了哺乳动物EV蛋白的同源物，包括运输和热休克所需的内体分选复合物的成分蛋白质，提示EV生物发生途径和蠕虫与其宿主之间的货物装载的保守性。但是，寄生虫蠕虫生物学是独特的，这很可能反映在蠕虫EV成分和生物学活性上。这篇观点文章重点介绍了两项非常规研究，它们确定了由Heligmosomoides polygyrus和Fasciola hepatica发行的EV与衍生自哺乳动物细胞的电动汽车相比，它们分别显示出不同的脂质和聚糖成分。此外，我们讨论了蠕虫EV脂质和聚糖成分对蠕虫感染和宿主病理学的潜在影响。未来的研究侧重于蠕虫电动车的独特组成和功能特性，可能证明对了解宿主-寄生虫的交流至关重要。