Fusion Landscape of Mycobacterial Envelope-Derived Lipid Vesicles with Intact Bacteria Dictates High Intracellular Drug Retention

Membrane vesicles are critical regulators of pathogenic
diseases.
In tubercular infections, the use of mycobacteria derived vesicles
as delivery vehicles to overcome drug resistance and complex treatment
regimens has never been attempted. Here, we first address how these
vesicles interact with their target cells, especially via membrane
fusion. Membrane fusion between alike mycobacterial outer and inner
membrane layer-derived lipid vesicles is shown to be driven by the
structural, geometrical, and biophysical attributes of constituent
lipids. The increased fusion of outer-membrane-derived vesicles with
intact bacteria ensures enhanced intracellular drug levels and is
presented as a “natural” antitubercular drug delivery
vehicle.