Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum extracellular vesicles promote Ly6G+ granulocyte infiltration to inhibit melanoma tumour progression

Authors

Nicklin, A. D., Jordan, A., Price, C. A., Rowe, M., Ilker, N., Mitchell, L., Stentz, R., Carding, S. R., Hall, L. J., Robinson, S. D.

Abstract

Harnessing the immunomodulatory capacity of commensal bacteria is an emerging avenue in cancer therapy. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) provide a non-replicating, nanoscale alternative to live microbes with the potential for safer systemic delivery. Here, we investigated BEVs from a novel Gram-positive strain of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum (Bif-210). Intravenous administration of Bif-210 BEVs reduced B16-F10 melanoma growth in C57BL/6J mice. Mechanistically, BEVs increased tumour-infiltrating Ly6G+ granulocytes in vivo, increased CD11b+Ly6G+ and ICAM-1+Ly6G+ bone marrow populations, and induced production of the neutrophil-attracting chemokines KC/CXCL1 (mouse) and IL-8 (human). Although Ly6G+ depletion independently inhibited tumour growth, it did not combine additively with BEVs, supporting a model in which Bif-210 BEVs alter Ly6G+ granulocyte function rather than simply expanding a conventional pro-tumour granulocyte pool. BEVs activated TLR2, did not activate TLR4, and upregulated TLR2 on Ly6G+ cells, while proxy assays provided no evidence of NETosis-associated activation. Repeated intravenous BEV administration produced no overt toxicity by tissue histology, body temperature, or body weight monitoring. These findings position B. pseudocatenulatum BEVs as a promising systemic immunotherapy that recruits and re-educates granulocytes via a TLR2-centred pathway to restrain melanoma progression. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIIntravenous Bif-210 BEVs reduce established B16-F10 melanoma growth in mice. C_LIO_LIBif-210 BEVs selectively increase tumour-associated Ly6G+ granulocytes. C_LIO_LIBEV treatment and Ly6G depletion are non-additive, linking BEV activity to granulocyte biology. C_LIO_LIBif-210 BEVs expand Ly6G+ bone marrow populations and induce granulocyte-recruiting chemokines. C_LIO_LIBif-210 BEVs engage TLR2 and enhance granulocyte fitness without NETosis-associated activation. C_LI

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The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 09 Jul 2026.

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