Rhizosphere priming promotes plant nitrogen acquisition by microbial necromass recycling.

Nitrogen availability in the rhizosphere relies on root-microorganism interactions, where root exudates trigger soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition through the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE). Though microbial necromass contribute significantly to organically bound soil nitrogen (N), the role of RPEs in regulating necromass recycling and plant nitrogen acquisition has received limited attention. We used 15N natural abundance as a proxy for necromass-N since necromass is enriched in 15N compared to other soil-N forms. We combined studies using the same experimental design for continuous 13CO2 labelling of various plant species and the same soil type, but considering top- and subsoil. RPE were quantified as difference in SOM-decomposition between planted and unplanted soils. Results showed higher plant N uptake as RPEs increased. The positive relationship between 15N-enrichment of shoots and roots and RPEs indicated an enhanced necromass-N turnover by RPE. Moreover, our data revealed that RPEs were saturated with increasing carbon (C) input via rhizodeposition in topsoil. In subsoil, RPEs increased linearly within a small range of C input indicating a strong effect of root-released C on decomposition rates in deeper soil horizons. Overall, this study confirmed the functional importance of rhizosphere C input for plant N acquisition through enhanced necromass turnover by RPEs.

A distinct sensitivity to the priming effect between labile and stable soil organic carbon.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a mixture of various carbon (C) compounds with different stability, which can be distinctly affected by the priming effect (PE). However, little is known about how the PE changes with SOC stability. We address this issue by combining results from two experiments and a metaanalysis. We found that the PE increased with the prolongation of soil preincubation, suggesting that higher PE occurred for more stable SOC than for labile SOC. This was further supported by the metaanalysis of 42 observations. There were significant negative relationships between the difference in PE (ΔPE) between labile and more stable SOC and their differences in SOC, microbial biomass C and soil C : N ratio, indicating that soil C availability exerts a vital control on ΔPE. We conclude that, compared with labile SOC, stable SOC can be more vulnerable to priming once microbes are provided with exogenous C substrates. This high vulnerability of stable SOC to priming warrants more attention in future studies on SOC cycling and global change.

Esophageal anthracosis occurred after treatment of esophageal tuberculosis secondary to mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis: a rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Anthracosis is a disease generally considered to be in the lungs resulting from exposure to industrial dust in the workplace. Esophageal anthracosis is a fairly rare phenomenon and shows a strong correlation with tuberculosis. Moreover, esophageal involvement in tuberculosis is also rare. We here present an extremely rare case in which follow-up gastroesophageal endoscopy revealed a mass with a sunken, black area in the center and raised ring-like pattern in the surrounding mucosa resembling malignant melanoma. Uncovering the patient's tuberculosis history finally avoided a misdiagnosis or overtreatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to "repeated chest pain for 1 month". Endoscopic ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT scans revealed a mass adjacent to the esophageal wall with unclear boundaries. Aspiration biopsy confirmed that esophageal tuberculosis was caused by nearby mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis. After a standard anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen, the patient achieved a favorable prognosis. The follow-up gastroesophageal endoscopy showed a sunken black lesion with elevated peripheral mucosa replacing the original tuberculous mass, which was thought to be anthracosis, a disease that rarely occurs in the esophagus. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of tuberculosis should be taken into consideration when a submucosal mass appears in the middle part of the esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography can effectively contribute to a definite diagnosis. Moreover, this is the first case of esophageal anthracosis observed only 1 year after the treatment of tuberculosis, indicating esophageal anthracosis can be a short-term disease. The traction of the reduction of tubercular mediastinal lymph nodes after anti-tuberculosis treatment may create a circumstance for pigmentation or dust deposition.

Temporal dynamics of fine root production, mortality and turnover deviate across branch orders in a larch stand.

Fine roots play a key role in carbon, nutrient, and water biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems. However, inter-annual dynamics of fine root production, mortality, and turnover on the basis of long-term measurement have been less studied. Here, field scanning rhizotrons were employed for tracking fine root by branch order over a 6 years period in a larch plantation. For total fine roots, from the first- to the fifth-order roots, annual root length production, length mortality, standing crops, and turnover rate varied up to 3.4, 2.3, 1.5, and 2.3-folds during the study period, respectively. The inter-annual variability of those roots indices in the first-order and the second-order roots were greater than that of the higher order (third- to fifth-order) roots. The turnover rate was markedly larger for the first-order roots than for the higher order roots, showing the greatest variability up to 20 times. Seasonal dynamics of root length production followed a general concentrated pattern with peak typically occurring in June or July, whereas root length mortality followed a general bimodal mortality pattern with the dominant peak in May and the secondary peak in August or October. Furthermore, the seasonal patterns of root length production and mortality were similar across years, especially for the first-order and the second-order roots. These results from long-term observation were beneficial for reducing uncertainty of characterizing fine root demography in consideration of large variation among years. Our findings highlight it is important for better understanding of fine root dynamics and determining root demography through distinguishing observation years and root branch orders.

Root effects on soil organic carbon: a double-edged sword.

From recent developments on how roots affect soil organic carbon (SOC) an apparent paradox has emerged where roots drive SOC stabilization causing SOC accrual, but also SOC destabilization causing SOC loss. We synthesize current results and propose the new Rhizo-Engine framework consisting of two linked components: microbial turnover and the soil physicochemical matrix. The Rhizo-Engine is driven by rhizodeposition, root turnover, and plant uptake of nutrients and water, thereby accelerating SOC turnover through both stabilization and destabilization mechanisms. This Rhizo-Engine framework emphasizes the need for a more holistic approach to study root-driven SOC dynamics. This framework would provide better understanding of plant root effects on soil carbon sequestration and the sensitivity of SOC stocks to climate and land-use changes.

Rhizosphere priming effects on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics among tree species with and without intraspecific competition.

Rhizosphere priming effects (RPEs) play a central role in modifying soil organic matter mineralization. However, effects of tree species and intraspecific competition on RPEs are poorly understood. We investigated RPEs of three tree species (larch, ash and Chinese fir) and the impact of intraspecific competition of these species on the RPE by growing them at two planting densities for 140 d. We determined the RPE on soil organic carbon (C) decomposition, gross and net nitrogen (N) mineralization and net plant N acquisition. Differences in the RPE among species were associated with differences in plant biomass. Gross N mineralization and net plant N acquisition increased, but net N mineralization decreased, as the RPE on soil organic C decomposition increased. Intraspecific competition reduced the RPE on soil organic C decomposition, gross and net N mineralization, and net plant N acquisition, especially for ash and Chinese fir. Microbial N mining may explain the overall positive RPEs across species, whereas intensified plant-microbe competition for N may have reduced the RPE with intraspecific competition. Overall, the species-specific effects of tree species play an important role in modulating the magnitude and mechanisms of RPEs and the intraspecific competition on soil C and N dynamics.

A novel soil manganese mechanism drives plant species loss with increased nitrogen deposition in a temperate steppe.

Loss of plant diversity with increased anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition in grasslands has occurred globally. In most cases, competitive exclusion driven by preemption of light or space is invoked as a key mechanism. Here, we provide evidence from a 9-yr N-addition experiment for an alternative mechanism: differential sensitivity of forbs and grasses to increased soil manganese (Mn) levels. In Inner Mongolia steppes, increasing the N supply shifted plant community composition from grass-forb codominance (primarily Stipa krylovii and Artemisia frigida, respectively) to exclusive dominance by grass, with associated declines in overall species richness. Reduced abundance of forbs was linked to soil acidification that increased mobilization of soil Mn, with a 10-fold greater accumulation of Mn in forbs than in grasses. The enhanced accumulation of Mn in forbs was correlated with reduced photosynthetic rates and growth, and is consistent with the loss of forb species. Differential accumulation of Mn between forbs and grasses can be linked to fundamental differences between dicots and monocots in the biochemical pathways regulating metal transport. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for N-induced species loss in temperate grasslands by linking metal mobilization in soil to differential metal acquisition and impacts on key functional groups in these ecosystems.

Decadally cycling soil carbon is more sensitive to warming than faster-cycling soil carbon.

The response of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools to globally rising surface temperature crucially determines the feedback between climate change and the global carbon cycle. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the temperature sensitivity of decomposition for decadally cycling SOC which is the main component of total soil carbon stock and the most relevant to global change. We tackled this issue using two decadally (13) C-labeled soils and a much improved measuring system in a long-term incubation experiment. Results indicated that the temperature sensitivity of decomposition for decadally cycling SOC (>23 years in one soil and >55 years in the other soil) was significantly greater than that for faster-cycling SOC (<23 or 55 years) or for the entire SOC stock. Moreover, decadally cycling SOC contributed substantially (35-59%) to the total CO2 loss during the 360-day incubation. Overall, these results indicate that the decomposition of decadally cycling SOC is highly sensitive to temperature change, which will likely make this large SOC stock vulnerable to loss by global warming in the 21st century and beyond.

Synthesis and modeling perspectives of rhizosphere priming.

The rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) is a mechanism by which plants interact with soil functions. The large impact of the RPE on soil organic matter decomposition rates (from 50% reduction to 380% increase) warrants similar attention to that being paid to climatic controls on ecosystem functions. Furthermore, global increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration and surface temperature can significantly alter the RPE. Our analysis using a game theoretic model suggests that the RPE may have resulted from an evolutionarily stable mutualistic association between plants and rhizosphere microbes. Through model simulations based on microbial physiology, we demonstrate that a shift in microbial metabolic response to different substrate inputs from plants is a plausible mechanism leading to positive or negative RPEs. In a case study of the Duke Free-Air CO2 Enrichment experiment, performance of the PhotoCent model was significantly improved by including an RPE-induced 40% increase in soil organic matter decomposition rate for the elevated CO2 treatment--demonstrating the value of incorporating the RPE into future ecosystem models. Overall, the RPE is emerging as a crucial mechanism in terrestrial ecosystems, which awaits substantial research and model development.

Crohn's disease as the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction: An exploratory proposal based on basic and clinical data.

Crohn's disease (CD) is caused by immune, environmental, and genetic factors. It can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract, and although its prevalence is rapidly increasing its etiology remains unclear. Emerging biological and small-molecule drugs have advanced the treatment of CD; however, a considerable proportion of patients are non-responsive to all known drugs. To achieve a breakthrough in this field, innovations that could guide the further development of effective therapies are of utmost urgency. In this review, we first propose the innovative concept of pan-lymphatic dysfunction for the general distribution of lymphatic dysfunction in various diseases, and suggest that CD is the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction based on basic and clinical preliminary data. The supporting evidence is fully summarized, including the existence of lymphatic system dysfunction, recognition of the inside-out model, disorders of immune cells, changes in cell plasticity, partial overlap of the underlying mechanisms, and common gut-derived fatty and bile acid metabolism. Another benefit of this novel concept is that it proposes adopting the zebrafish model for studying intestinal diseases, especially CD, as this model is good at presenting and mimicking lymphatic dysfunction. More importantly, the ensuing focus on improving lymphatic function may lead to novel and promising therapeutic strategies for CD.

Antagonizing adipose tissue-derived exosome miR-103-hepatocyte phosphatase and tensin homolog pathway alleviates autophagy in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A trans-cellular crosstalk.

BACKGROUND: Obesity plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the underlining mechanism is still unclear, where adipose tissue (AT) derived exosomes may actively participate. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are commonly secreted from exosomes for cell communication. Though the regulation of miR-103 on insulin sensitivity has been reported, the specific role of AT-derived exosomes miR-103 in NASH is still vague and further investigation may provide novel therapeutic choices. AIM: To determine the specific role of AT-derived exosomes miR-103 in developing NASH through various methods. METHODS: The expression levels of miR-103 in the AT-derived exosomes and livers were detected and compared between NASH mice and control. The effect of miR-103 on NASH progression was also explored by antagonizing miR-103, including steatosis and inflammation degree changes. The interaction between miR-103 and the autophagy-related gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The role of the interaction between miR-103 and PTEN on autophagy was verified in NASH-like cells. Finally, the effects of miR-103 from adipose-derived exosomes on NASH and autophagy were analyzed through animal experiments. RESULTS: The expression of miR-103 was increased in NASH mice, compared to the control, and inhibition of miR-103 could alleviate NASH. The results of the dual-luciferase reporter assay showed miR-103 could interact with PTEN. MiR-103-anta decreased p-AMPKa, p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p62 but increased the protein levels of PTEN and LC3-II/I and the number of autophagosomes in NASH mice. Similar results were also observed in NASH-like cells, and further experiments showed PTEN silencing inhibited the effect of miR-103-anta. AT derived-exosome miR-103 aggravated NASH and increased the expressions of p-AMPKa, p-mTOR, and p62 but decreased the protein levels of PTEN and LC3-II/I and the number of autophagosomes in mice. CONCLUSION: AT derived-exosome increased the levels of miR-103 in the liver, and miR-103 aggravated NASH. Mechanically, miR-103 could interact with PTEN and inhibit autophagy.

Performance and mechanism of different pretreatment methods for inoculated sludge in biohydrogen production.

A comparison was conducted between pre-culture bacteria (PCB) and heat treatment anaerobic granular sludge (HTAGS) for hydrogen production, and it was found that hydrogen molar yield (HMY) of PCB was 21-35% higher than that of HTAGS. The addition of biochar increased hydrogen production in both cultivation methods by acting as an electron shuttle to enhance extracellular electron transfers of Clostridium and Enterobacter. On the other hand, Fe3O4 did not promote hydrogen production in PCB experiments but had a positive effect on HTAGS experiments. This was due to the fact that PCB was mainly composed of Clostridium butyricum, which could not reduce extracellular iron oxide, resulting in a lack of respiratory driving force. In contrast, HTAGS retained a significant amount of Enterobacter, which possess the ability of extracellular anaerobic respiration. Different pretreatment methods of inoculum resulted in significant changes in the sludge community, thus exerting a noticeable impact on biohydrogen production.

Acid-base transformative HADLA micelles alleviate colitis by restoring adaptive immunity and gut microbiome.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a worldwide public health issue with an increasing number of patients annually. However, there is no curative drug for IBD, and the present medication for IBD generally focuses on suppressing hyperactive immune responses, which can only delay disease progression but inevitably induce off-target side effects, including infections and cancers. Herein, late-model orally administered nanotherapeutic micelles (HADLA) were developed based on a conjugate of hyaluronic acid (HA) and dehydrolithocholic acid (DLA), which was simple to achieve and obtained satisfactory therapeutic efficacy in a murine colitis model with a full safety profile. HADLA is capable of targeting inflammatory colon tissues, restoring intestinal barrier function and reducing intestinal epithelial cell death. Moreover, it modulates the adaptive immune system by inhibiting the activation of pathogenic T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and it exhibits more remarkable effects in preventing colitis than DLA alone. Finally, HADLA exhibits a remarkable ability to modulate dysregulated gut microbiomes by increasing beneficial probiotics and decreasing pathogenic bacteria, such as Turicibacter. Compared with the current systemic or subcutaneous administration of biologics, this study opens new avenues in the oral delivery of immune-modulating nanomedicine and introduces DLA as a new medication for IBD treatment.

Continuous renal replacement therapy with oXiris® in patients with hematologically malignant septic shock: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The mortality rate from septic shock in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) remains significantly higher than that in patients without HMs. A longer resuscitation time would definitely be harmful because of the irreversibly immunocompromised status of the patients. Shortening the resuscitation time through continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with oXiris® would be an attractive strategy in managing such patients. AIM: To explore the effects of CRRT and oXiris® in shortening the resuscitation time and modifying the host response by reducing inflammation mediator levels. METHODS: Forty-five patients with HM were diagnosed with septic shock and underwent CRRT between 2018 and 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on the hemofilter used for CRRT (oXiris® group, n = 26; M150 group, n = 19). We compared the number of days of negative and total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT between the groups. The heart rate, norepinephrine dose, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and blood lactic acid levels at different time points in the two groups were also compared. Blood levels of inflammatory mediators in the 26 patients in the oXiris® group were measured to further infer the possible mechanism. RESULTS: The average total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT in the oXiris® group was significantly lower than that of patients in the M150 hemofilter group. The SOFA scores of patients after CRRT with oXiris® therapy were significantly lower than those before treatment on day 1 (d1), d3 and d7 after CRRT; these parameters were also significantly lower than those of the control group on d7. The lac level after oXiris® therapy was significantly lower than that before treatment on d3 and d7 after CRRT. There were no significant differences in the above parameters between the two groups at the other time points. In the oXiris® group, procalcitonin levels decreased on d7, whereas interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor levels decreased significantly on d3 and d7 after treatment. CONCLUSION: CRRT with oXiris® hemofilter may improve hemodynamics by reducing inflammatory mediators and playing a role in shortening the resuscitation period and decreasing total fluid balance in the resuscitation phases.

The enhancement on biohydrogen production by the driving forces from extracellular iron oxide respiration.

Biohydrogen productions from xylose and glucose under dark condition were enhanced by the presence of natural Fe3O4. The electron equivalent of H2 fractions accounted for 4.55 % and 5.69 % of the total given xylose and glucose in the experiments without Fe3O4, and that were correspondingly increased to 5.14 % and 6.50 % in the experiments with 100 mg/L of Fe3O4, respectively. Moreover, Fe3O4 increased the total intracellular NAD(H) concentrations by 8.84 % and 8.37 %, and boosted the ratios of NADH/NAD+ by 8.33 % and 17.72 % in xylose and glucose fermentation, respectively, comparing to the corresponding control experiments. The formation of electron couples of Fe(III)/Fe(II) during the iron oxide respiration and more generation of active extracellular polymeric substances components were determined as the important reasons for the improved biohydrogen production performance. Thus, a promotion mechanism of the internal "driving forces" from extracellular iron oxide respiration on the biohydrogen production was proposed.

Belowground Carbon Efficiency for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Acquisition Varies Between Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens and Depends on Phosphorus Fertilization.

Photosynthetically derived carbon (C) is allocated belowground, allowing plants to obtain nutrients. However, less is known about the amount of nutrients acquired relative to the C allocated belowground, which is referred to as C efficiency for nutrient acquisition (CENA). Here, we examined how C efficiency for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition varied between ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and clover (Trifolium repens) with and without P fertilization. A continuous 13C-labeling method was applied to track belowground C allocation. Both species allocated nearly half of belowground C to rhizosphere respiration (49%), followed by root biomass (37%), and rhizodeposition (14%). With regard to N and P, CENA was higher for clover than for ryegrass, which remained higher after accounting for relatively low C costs associated with biological N2 fixation. Phosphorus fertilization increased the C efficiency for P acquisition but decreased the C efficiency for N acquisition. A higher CENA for N and P in clover may be attributed to the greater rhizosphere priming on soil organic matter decomposition. Increased P availability with P fertilization could induce lower C allocation for P uptake but exacerbate soil N limitation, thereby making N uptake less C efficient. Overall, our study revealed that species-specific belowground C allocation and nutrient uptake efficiency depend on which nutrient is limited.

Gut microbiome and microbial metabolites in NAFLD and after bariatric surgery: Correlation and causality.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently related to a heavy socioeconomic burden and increased incidence. Since obesity is the most prevalent risk factor for NAFLD, weight loss is an effective therapeutic solution. Bariatric surgery (BS), which can achieve long-term weight loss, improves the overall health of patients with NAFLD. The two most common surgeries are the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. The gut-liver axis is the complex network of cross-talking between the gut, its microbiome, and the liver. The gut microbiome, involved in the homeostasis of the gut-liver axis, is believed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the metabolic improvement after BS. Alterations in the gut microbiome in NAFLD have been confirmed compared to that in healthy individuals. The mechanisms linking the gut microbiome to NAFLD have been proposed, including increased intestinal permeability, higher energy intake, and other pathophysiological alterations. Interestingly, several correlation studies suggested that the gut microbial signatures after BS become more similar to those of lean, healthy controls than that of patients with NAFLD. The resolution of NAFLD after BS is related to changes in the gut microbiome and its metabolites. However, confirming a causal link remains challenging. This review summarizes characteristics of the gut microbiome in patients with NAFLD before and after BS and accumulates existing evidence about the underlying mechanisms of the gut microbiome.

High-fat diet aggravates colitis via mesenteric adipose tissue derived exosome metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD), higher disease activity, and comparatively worse clinical outcomes. AIM: To investigate the role of mesenteric adipose tissue-derived exosomes in the pathogenesis of CD aggravation in obese individuals. METHODS: First, we induced colitis in mice initiated on high-fat and normal diets and compared the severity of colitis. We then extracted and identified exosomes from mesenteric adipose tissue and determined the levels of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in mesenteric adipose tissue-derived exosomes and the colon. Next, we demonstrated an interaction between MALAT1 and the miR-15a-5p/activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) axis. Finally, we explored the effects of mesenteric adipose tissue-derived exosomes extracted from mice fed a high-fat or normal diet on the severity of 2,4,6-trinitrobe-nzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis and ATF6-related endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. RESULTS: High-fat diet was found to aggravate TNBS-induced colitis in mice. The expression of MALAT1 in mesenteric adipose tissue-derived exosomes of high-fat diet-fed mice increased. The increased expression of MALAT1 in colon tissue exacerbated TNBS-induced colitis and activated the ATF6 endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. This effect was partially reversed by the reduced expression of MALAT1 and overexpression of miR-15a-5p. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric adipose tissue-derived exosome-encapsulated long noncoding RNAs MALAT1 targets the colon and aggravates TNBS-induced colitis in obese mice, which may potentially act on the miR-15a-5p/ATF6 axis and activate endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Plant inputs mediate the linkage between soil carbon and net nitrogen mineralization.

Plant residue inputs play a crucial role in regulating soil carbon (C) stock and nitrogen (N) availability in cropland. However, little is known regarding how plant inputs mediate the relationships between soil C and net N mineralization, causing additional uncertainty in predicting ecosystem C and N dynamics. This study investigated the influences of long-term deprivation of plant inputs, short-term addition of maize straw and experimental warming on soil C and net N mineralization and their relationships. We conducted an 815-day laboratory incubation experiment under 10 and 20 °C using soils from a long-term bare fallow plot (without plant inputs for 23 years) and its adjacent old field plot (with continuous plant inputs). Our results showed that long-term deprivation of plant inputs decreased soil net N mineralization (per unit total N or TN) by 56% on average, but had minor effect on soil C mineralization (per unit soil organic C). Soil C and net N mineralization rates were positively correlated in the old field soil under 20 °C. However, soil C and net N mineralization rates were not correlated in the bare fallow soil, mainly due to the low level of net N mineralization. Moreover, soil C and net N mineralization rates were significantly increased by the addition of maize straw in both land-use types. When net N mineralization was <162 (or 159) µg N g-1 TN d-1, soil C and net N mineralization rates were negatively correlated due to an increase of microbial N demand during plant litter mineralization. When net N mineralization was >162 (or 159) µg N g-1 TN d-1, soil C and net N mineralization rates were positively correlated owing to a greater microbial mining of N from soil organic matter (SOM). Further, elevated temperature increased soil C and net N mineralization rates, and changed the relationships between soil C and net N mineralization. Taken together, this study provides evidence that plant inputs mediate the relationships between soil C and net N mineralization, and is thus critical in controlling ecosystem C and N cycling.

Palmitoylation in Crohn's disease: Current status and future directions.

S-palmitoylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications in nature; however, its importance has been overlooked for decades. Crohn's disease (CD), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation involving the entire gastrointestinal tract. Bowel damage and subsequent disabilities caused by CD are a growing global health issue. Well-acknowledged risk factors for CD include genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, such as a westernized lifestyle, and altered gut microbiota. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disorder are not yet comprehensively understood. With the rapidly increasing global prevalence of CD and the evident role of S-palmitoylation in CD, as recently reported, there is a need to investigate the relationship between CD and S-palmitoylation. In this review, we summarize the concept, detection, and function of S-palmitoylation as well as its potential effects on CD, and provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of CD.