Effects of Milk Extracellular Vesicles from Bovine, Human, and Caprine origin on Rotavirus Infectivity in Cultured Human Intestinal Cells

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in neonates representing a global health burden. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles [EVs] have emerged as potential antivirals, offering a promising avenue for intervention. The present study evaluated the antiviral activity of EVs sourced from bovine, human, and caprine milk against the infection of the human Wa and bovine WC3 rotavirus strains. EVs induced an endogenous effect in Caco-2 cells, resulting in a significant reduction of rotaviral infection. The antiviral properties of the milk EVs, were found to be associated with synergistic interactions at pre- and post-attachment stages of the infection. Finally, the effect of milk processing on bovine milk EVs efficacy was assessed. It was found that after high-temperature short-time pasteurization EVs retained their activity, while homogenization resulted in no antiviral effect at all. Overall, our findings demonstrate a significant reduction in rotavirus infection in cultured Caco-2 cells when treated with milk EVs.