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Background: Cell death within the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in controlling cancer by influencing the balance of tumor-specific immunity. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) significantly contribute to tumor progression through paracrine mechanisms. We found that reprogramming of CAFs by apoptotic cancer cells suppresses tumor volume and lung metastasis. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which the interaction between apoptotic lung cancer cells and CAFs hinders tumor growth. Methods: Experimental methods including CCK assay, colony formation assay, immunoblotting, co-immunoprecipitation, qRT-PCR analysis, qRT-PCR array, apoptosis assay, ELISA, and immunofluorescent staining were used in this study. Additionally, CAFs were isolated from lung tumors of Kras-mutant (KrasLA1) mice and human lung adenocarcinoma samples using magnetic-activated cell sorting. Murine lung cancer cells (344SQ cells) along with various human cancer cell lines (A549, HCT116, and LoVo) were cultured. In animal study, conditioned medium (CM) derived from CAFs (undiluted or 50% diluted) with or without neutralizing anti-WISP-1 antibody was administered into syngeneic mice to study anti-tumoral effects. To confirm the paracrine role of WISP-1, recombinant WISP-1 (rWISP-1) was administered via intratumoral injection. Results: We demonstrate that treatment with CM from lung CAFs exposed to apoptotic cancer cells suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in lung cancer cells through STAT1 signaling. Pharmacologic inhibition of Notch1 activation or siRNA-mediated Notch1 silencing in CAFs reversed the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. Similarly, knockdown of Wnt-induced signaling protein 1 (WISP-1) in CAFs or neutralizing the CM with anti-WISP-1 antibodies reversed the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. WISP-1 signaled through integrin ανβ3-STAT1 signaling pathway to inhibit cancer cell growth and promote apoptosis. The in vivo introduction of CM derived from apoptotic 344SQ-exposed CAFs (ApoSQ-CAF CM) potently decelerated tumor growth. This effect was observed alongside the downregulation of proliferative and anti-apoptotic markers, while simultaneously boosting the activation of phosphorylated STAT1 and pro-apoptotic markers in CD326+ tumor cells within syngeneic immunocompetent mice. rWISP-1 effectively replicates the in vivo effects of ApoSQ-CAF CM. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CM from apoptotic cancer cell-exposed CAFs may offer a promising therapeutic approach by lung cancer suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiefrus) is a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red list, facing threats from illegal poaching and habitat loss. Understanding its dietary habits and ecological needs is essential for supporting conservation efforts. This study is the first to use Next-Generation Sequencing to analyze the diet of M. moschiferus. Our results revealed that the species primarily fed on woody plants in April, with Morus and Quercus being the most consumed genera. Almost half of the identified genera had not previously been reported as part of the M. moschiferus diet using conventional methods, highlighting the need for DNA metabarcoding to more accurately compare the dietary composition of M. moschiferus across different regions. This research provides valuable insights into the types of plants M. moschiferus may consume during the spring season. Understanding the dietary composition of the Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) is critical for informing conservation efforts, particularly given the species' vulnerable status in the Republic of Korea and its limited ecological data. Previous dietary studies have relied on conventional methods with limitations in taxonomic precision, hindering comprehensive insights into their feeding ecology. To address this gap, we used Next-Generation Sequencing to analyze 16 fecal samples collected in April from Gangwon Province, the habitat of M. moschiferus. Our results revealed 213 unique plant species, with Morus, Quercus, and Prunus accounting for the majority of the diet. Notably, nearly half of the identified genera, including Morus, Actinidia, and Viscum, were reported for the first time as dietary plants of M. moschiferus. This study confirms that M. moschiferus is a concentrate feeder that primarily relies on woody plants (98.8%) and may exhibit tree-climbing behavior to access parasitic shrubs like Viscum. These findings provide a foundation for future dietary analysis research and serve as valuable baseline data for the long-term conservation of M. moschiferus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examines the relationship between small mammals and the chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) that parasitize them in different habitat types within a region of South Korea. Small mammals are important hosts for chigger mites, which are vectors for diseases such as scrub typhus. We investigated how the distribution of small mammals and their parasitic mites varies across forests, grasslands, agricultural lands, and ecotones. Our findings suggest that grasslands and ecotones near human settlements have the highest abundance of small mammals, particularly Apodemus agrarius, and consequently, higher rates of mite infestation. In particular, the density of A. agrarius increased significantly in the fall, leading to a sharp rise in mite infestation rates and mean intensity. By understanding how habitat characteristics influence the abundance of small mammals and their parasites, this research highlights the importance of habitat management strategies to reduce the spread of mite-borne diseases to humans. While urbanization leads to habitat loss for medium and large mammals, small mammals can survive in fragmented habitats. As they are known to be the primary hosts of chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) that transmit scrub typhus, their habitat can be considered the primary distribution area for chigger mites. This study aims to examine the distribution of small mammals and chigger mites in four habitat types and analyzed species richness, mean intensity (MI), dominance, and infestation rate (IR). A total of six small mammal species were captured, 76.8% of which were identified as Apodemus agrarius. Species richness of small mammals was highest in forests, followed by ecotones, grasslands, and agricultural lands. Apodemus agrarius accounted for 61% of the captures in forests, 80% in ecotones, 84% in grasslands, and 50% in agricultural lands, highlighting its varying dominance across habitat types. The MI of chigger mites was higher in grasslands (215.41 ± 20.70) and ecotones (171.67 ± 30.33) and lower in forests (76.67 ± 32.11). The MI of chigger mites was higher in the fall than that in the spring, and according to the MaxEnt model, they had a narrow, dense distribution in the fall and a wide distribution in the spring. These results suggest that inducing increased species richness of small mammalian hosts by habitat management and vegetation diversification may contribute to a reduction in the MI of chigger mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The dispersion of ixodid ticks depends on their hosts, with tick density correlating positively with host density. Water deer, designated as harmful wildlife due to their foraging activities in croplands, are considered significant hosts for dispersing ixodid ticks within human residential areas. Over the course of two years, a substantial number of water deer captured while entering croplands were subjected to analysis for the presence of parasitic ixodid ticks. The findings revealed a notable mean intensity of nymphs and adults during summer, whereas larvae were found to be more abundant during fall. The number of larvae correlated positively with the population density of water deer. MaxEnt modeling predicted broad distribution areas for water deer in summer, coinciding with abundant crops, and similarly for nymphs and adults, which peak in summer. Forest valleys converted into croplands are expected to promote ixodid tick dispersion due to alignment with the habitat preferences of water deer and increased crop utilization. Since agricultural factors contribute significantly to the occurrence of tick-borne diseases, preventive measures such as selective land clearing and crop selection should be implemented to mitigate human contact with ixodid ticks in farming environments. Tick-borne diseases result from human–ixodid tick encounters, making it crucial to understand host–ixodid tick interactions and host-dependent distribution for epidemiology and prevention. This study examines water deer patterns and ixodid tick interactions in designated croplands of South Korea over two years, finding that the highest deer presence occurred in July and the lowest in May, during crop harvesting. Four tick species were identified, with Haemaphysalis longicornis being predominant (92.2%). Tick life stage analysis revealed peak nymphs and adults in July and larvae in October. Nymph abundance correlated positively with nearby water deer. MaxEnt biodiversity prediction results indicated wider water deer distribution in summer, reflecting their tendency to use multiple croplands. Areas with nymphs and adults aligned with predicted deer presence in summer, while larval areas aligned in autumn. Increased agroforestry expanded water deer habitats, enhancing tick dispersion. Prevention involved minimizing human–deer encounters by strategic land use in tick-prone areas. This comprehensive study provides insights into preventing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in agricultural workers, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions based on host behavior and tick life stages in different seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice paddies are dynamic areas for microbe-mediated nitrogen cycling and this could be driven by the long-term alteration of paddy soil edaphic factors. The objective of this study is to evaluate the lasting impact of long-term compost fertilization on the soil chemical properties of paddy fields, determining the size of the microbial guilds involved in nitrification and denitrification. Soil sampling was done on paddy fields without fertilizer, with NPK + compost, and with compost application, and the soil chemical properties of the fields were determined from 2018 to 2021. The abundance of genes related to nitrogen cycling was measured using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Annual analyses showed that the studied soils have attained stable, baseline chemical properties with significantly increased phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K), SOM, and total nitrogen (TN) due to decades of fertilization with NPK + compost and compost. Consequently, the genes related to bacterial amoA, nosZI, and nosZII were significantly increased in Com- and NPKCom-amended soils compared to the NF paddy field. The nirK gene abundance was unaffected after long-term amendment with compost. A positive correlation was found between the archaeal amoA gene abundance and DOC, while SOM and TN were consistently positively correlated with the abundances of bacterial amoA, nosZI, and nosZII genes, in addition to interactions with potassium and DOC. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated soil variabilities across treatments, where the unfertilized paddy field contained lower SOM and nutrient contents with a characteristic nirK gene abundance. Similar variabilities in terms of the SOM, TN, K, nosZI, and nosZII gene abundances were observed in the Com and NPKCom paddy fields. Long-term amendment with NPK + compost and compost created soil paddy fields with stable soil chemical properties with higher SOM and nutrient contents, which established higher abundances of genes associated with denitrification and nitrification that were observed during the fallow period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild-simulated ginseng (WSG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) must be cultivated in mountainous forests without installation of artificial facilities or treatment of chemicals. Because cultivation of these medicinal plants requires a long-term period, soil properties and rhizobacteria are known as major factors affecting their growth. This study was aimed to investigate correlations of soil bacterial community with soil chemical properties and growth of 10-year-old WSG. Most of the growth characteristics of WSG were higher in southern region than in northern regions, while leaflet length and leaflet width of WSG were higher in northern regions. In all WSG cultivation sites, the most dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria in the bacterial community. In Principal component analysis (PCA), soil bacterial community was affected by exchangeable cations (calcium, magnesium), soil pH, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter. Soil pH was the most effective factor in this study because all studied sites were acidic soils. In spearman's coefficient analysis, 9 of 13 growth characteristics of WSG showed significantly positive correlation with the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, while rhizome length and number of rootlets showed significant negative correlations with population of Acidobacteria. Therefore, growth characteristics of WSG in different cultivation sites can be affected by various soil environmental factors. These results can help foresters find suitable cultivation sites for WSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The omics‐based studies are important for identifying characteristic proteins in plants to elucidate the mechanism of ACC deaminase producing bacteria‐mediated salt tolerance. This study evaluates the changes in the proteome of rice inoculated with ACC deaminase producing bacteria under salt‐stress conditions. Salt stress resulted in a significant decrease in photosynthetic pigments, whereas inoculation of Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 had significantly increased pigment contents under normal and salt‐stress conditions. A total of 76, 51 and 33 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified in non‐inoculated salt‐stressed plants, bacteria‐inoculated plants under normal and salt stress conditions respectively. The abundances of proteins responsible for ethylene emission and programmed cell death were increased, and that of photosynthesis‐related proteins were decreased in non‐inoculated plants under salt stress. However, bacteria‐inoculated plants had shown higher abundance of antioxidant proteins, RuBisCo and ribosomal proteins that are important for enhancing stress tolerance and improving plant physiological traits. Collectively, salt stress might affect plant physiological traits by impairing photosynthetic machinery and accelerating apoptosis leading to a decline in biomass. However, inoculation of plants with bacteria can assist in enhancing photosynthetic activity, antioxidant activities and ethylene regulation related proteins for attenuating salt‐induced apoptosis and sustaining growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) promotes an anti-inflammatory process by inducing the development of M2 macrophages. We investigated whether modulating STAT6 activity in macrophages using AS1517499, the specific STAT6 inhibitor, affects the restoration of homeostasis after an inflammatory insult by regulating PPARγ expression and activity. Administration of AS1517499 suppressed the enhanced STAT6 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation observed in peritoneal macrophages after zymosan injection. In addition, AS1517499 delayed resolution of acute inflammation as evidenced by enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines in PLF and supernatants from peritoneal macrophages, and exaggerated neutrophil numbers and total protein levels in PLF. We demonstrate temporal increases in annexin A1 (AnxA1) protein and mRNA levels in peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF), peritoneal macrophages, and spleen in a murine model of zymosan-induced acute peritonitis. In vitro priming of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and peritoneal macrophages with AnxA1 induced STAT6 activation with enhanced PPARγ expression and activity. Using AS1517499, we demonstrate that inhibition of STAT6 activation delayed recovery of PPARγ expression and activity, as well as impaired efferocytosis. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of the STAT6 signaling pathway mediates PPARγ expression and activation in macrophages to resolve acute inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated in vitro anti-obesity and immunostimulatory activity of wood cultivated ginseng. The roots (WCG-R) and stems (WCG-S) of wood cultivated ginseng reduced the lipid accumulation and TG contents in 3T3-L1 cells. WCG-R and WCG-S inhibited the protein expressions such as CEBPα, PPARγ, perilipin-1, adiponectin and FABP4 related to the lipid accumulation of the mature adipocytes. In addition, WCG-R and WCG-S reduced CEBPα and PPARγ during the differentiation process from preadipocytes to mature adipocytes. WCG-S increased the production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. TLR2 and TLR4 blocked the production of immunostimulatory factors by WCG-S in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathway reduced WCG-S-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors and the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathway by WCG-S was suppressed by the inhibition of TLR2/4. These findings indicate that WCG-R and WCG-S may be considered to have anti-obesity and immunostimulatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance and taxonomic composition of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) were assessed in paddy soils that had received more than 50 years of fertilization with and without inorganic N. The inorganic N fertilized treatments were: NPK and NPK + CO (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and compost (CO)). The treatments without inorganic N were: CO, PK and control (unfertilized soils). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of the archaeal amoA gene showed no significant changes in AOA abundance following the long‐term application of inorganic N fertilizers. However, subsequent analysis of amoA gene sequencing data showed that inorganic N application significantly changed the AOA community composition and alpha diversity indices. Edge principal components analysis (PCA) showed varying contributions of distinct AOA lineages in separating samples according to the fertilization treatment. Addition of inorganic N favoured an increase in the abundance of AOA lineages belonging to Nitrososphaera, and the treatments without inorganic N additions formed a separate cluster dominated by Nitrosotalea lineage. The distinct response of the two AOA lineages points towards different community organization of soil AOA and strongly supports the concept of habitat partitioning in paddy soil ecosystems. Highlights: Lineages of AOA responded differently to different N management practices.Long‐term N fertilization selectively enriched AOA lineages, with C:N ratio a factor associated with such changesInorganic N favoured Nitrososphaera lineage abundanceRegardless of fertilizer status, Nitrosotalea lineage was dominant in the absence of inorganic N fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil properties are one of the major factors determining the growth of vegetation. These properties drive the selection of the dominant bacterial community profiles, which eventually determines the soil quality and fertility. The abundance of preferential bacterial community assists in better productivity of a particular type of vegetation. The increasing focus on the health and well-being of the human population has resulted in a shift in paradigm to concentrate on the cultivation of medicinal plants such as Wild-simulated ginseng (WSG). These plant species take a long time for their growth and are generally cultivated in the mountainous forest trenches of Far East countries like South Korea. This study was conducted to decipher the bacterial community profiles and their correlation with soil chemical properties, which would give a broader idea about the optimum growing conditions of such an important medicinal plant. The important edaphic factor determined in this study was the soil pH, which was recorded to be acidic in all the studied cultivation sites. In agreement with the edaphic factor, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria was found to be highest as this phylum prefers to grow in acidic soils. Moreover, the total organic matter, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity were found to be significantly correlated with the bacterial community. Hence, these results will help to identify the suitable cultivation sites for WSG and increase the productivity of these medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discharge of untreated wastewater is one of the major problems in various countries. The use of azo dyes in textile industries are one of the key xenobiotic compounds which effect both soil and water ecosystems and result in drastic effect on the microbial communities. Orathupalayam dam, which is constructed over Noyyal river in Tamil Nadu, India has become a sink of wastewater from the nearby textile industries. The present study had aimed to characterize the bacterial diversity and community profiles of soil collected from the vicinity of the dam (DS) and allied agricultural field (ALS) nearby the catchment area. The soil dehydrogenase and cellulase activities were significantly lower in DS compared to ALS. Additionally, the long-term exposure to azo dye compounds resulted in higher relative abundance of Saccharibacteria (36.4%) which are important for degradation of azo dyes. On the other hand, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (25.4%) were higher in ALS. Interestingly, the abundance of Saccharibacteria (15.2%) were also prominent in ALS suggesting that the azo compounds might have deposited in the agricultural field through irrigation. Hence, this study revealed the potential bacterial phyla which can be key drivers for designing viable technologies for degradation of xenobiotic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is one of the most serious abiotic stress factors affecting plant productivity through reduction of soil water potential, decreasing the absorptive capacity of the roots for water and nutrients. A weighted meta-analysis was conducted to study the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation in alleviating salt stress in C3 and C4 plants. We analyzed the salt stress influence on seven independent variables such as chlorophyll, leaf area, photosynthetic rate (Amax), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) on AMF inoculated plants. Responses were compared between C3 and C4 plants, AMF species, plant functional groups, level of salinity, and environmental conditions. Our results showed that AMF inoculated plants had a positive impact on gas exchange and water status under salt stress. The total chlorophyll contents of C3 plants were higher than C4 plants. However, C3 plants responses regarding Gs, Amax , and E were more positive compared to C4 plants. The increase in G s mainly maintained E and it explains the increase in Amax and increase in E. When the two major AMF species (Rhizophagus intraradices and Funnelliformis mosseae) were considered, the effect sizes of RWC and WUE in R. intraradices were lower than those in F. mosseae indicating that F. mosseae inoculated plants performed better under salt stress. In terms of C3 and C4 plant photosynthetic pathways, the effect size of C4 was lower than C3 plants indicating that AMF inoculation more effectively alleviated salt stress in C3 compared to C4 plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the stoichiometry-dependent deep levels in p-type indium phosphide crystals doped with zinc involving photocapacitance measurement. Level density and energy levels; Ion density; Optical transition mechanism.

Deals with a study that applied a photocapacitance method to investigate the stoichiometry-dependent deep levels in undoped crystals. Experimental details; Photocapacitance measurements; Results and discussions.

Abstract: The pollution of agricultural soils by the heavy metals affects the productivity of the land and has an impact on the quality of the surrounding ecosystems. This study investigated the bacterial community structure in the heavy metal contaminated sites along a smelter and a distantly located paddy field to elucidate the factors that are related to the alterations of the bacterial communities under the conditions of heavy metal pollution. Among the study sites, the bacterial communities in the soil did not show any significant differences in their richness and diversity. The soil bacterial communities at the three study sites were distinct from one another at each site, possessing a distinct set of bacterial phylotypes. Among the study sites, significant changes were observed in the abundances of the bacterial phyla and genera. The variations in the bacterial community structure were mostly related to the general soil properties at the phylum level, while at the finer taxonomic levels, the concentrations of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) were the significant factors, affecting the community structure. The relative abundances of the genera Desulfatibacillum and Desulfovirga were negatively correlated to the concentrations of As, Pb, and cadmium (Cd) in the soil, while the genus Bacillus was positively correlated to the concentrations of As and Cd. According to the results of the prediction of bacterial community functions, the soil bacterial communities of the heavy metal polluted sites were characterized by the more abundant enzymes involved in DNA replication and repair, translation, transcription, and the nucleotide metabolism pathways, while the amino acid and lipid metabolism, as well as the biodegradation potential of xenobiotics, were reduced. Our results showed that the adaptation of the bacterial communities to the heavy metal contamination was predominantly attributed to the replacement process, while the changes in community richness were linked to the variations in the soil pH values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]