University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Bacterial extracellular vesicles as recyclable nutrient reservoirs Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to mediate intercellular communication, virulence, and immune modulation. Here we show that bacteria can utilise EVs also as recyclable nutrient reservoirs. Using Bacillus cereus as a model organism, we demonstrate that EVs exhibit distinct dynamics depending on growth conditions: EVs produced in complex nutrient-rich media undergo time-dependent degradation, while those produced in defined nutrient-limited conditions remain stable and accumulate. We observe similar EV degradation patterns in Staphylococcus aureus. Time-resolved multi-omics profiling reveals that EVs containing the lipid sphingomyelin undergo progressive degradation. Using pharmacological inhibition, knockout mutants, and enzymatic complementation, we show that this process is driven by secreted sphingomyelinase (SMase). This enzyme contributes to degradation of sphingomyelin-containing EVs, thereby releasing their biomolecular cargo which can be used as a nutrient source. Growth assays confirm that SMase-mediated EV degradation provides a growth advantage when nutrients become depleted, thus establishing EVs as dynamic nutrient reservoirs. https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5628 en TEXT journal article Wissenschaftlicher Artikel Articolo scientifico Text Wissenschaftlicher Artikel Documento PDF Articolo scientifico Text journal article 2026 2026 Astrid Laimer-Digruber (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Tanja V. Edelbacher (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Masoumeh Alinaghihossein (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Mia S. C. Yu Dapi Menglin Chiang Benedikt Kirchner Susanne I. Wudy Waltraud Tschulenk (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Ingrid Walter (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Stefan Kummer (VetCore, Central Special Facilities, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Christina Ludwig Jan Přibyl Michael W. Pfaffl Monika Ehling-Schulz (Centre of Pathobiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Departments, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Springer