Exosomal Communication Goes Viral

Exosomes are small vesicles secreted from cells that participate in intercellular communication events. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that host exosome pathways are hijacked by viruses and that viral-modified exosomes contribute to virus spread and immune evasion. In the case of tumor viruses, recent findings suggest that alterations in normal exosome biology may contribute to the development and progression of cancer. These studies are discussed in context of our current knowledge of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-modified exosomes.