This book provides a detailed account of the physico-chemical properties
and biological functions of the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of
different pathogenic and non-pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. It also
includes an authentic record of the first systematic study that
discovered the mechanism of OMV formation by a pathogen, Vibrio
cholerae, and proposed that the process represented a novel secretory
activity of bacteria. Furthermore, the authors present clinical and
laboratory data on the use of OMVs as immunogens, as effective and
licensed vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B
infections and on the development of more effective vaccines against
other human and animal pathogens including Vibrio cholerae. This
volume thus bears witness to the emerging revolution in the field of
vaccines against pathogens and closes with a discussion of open
questions and future research on OMVs.