COVER Inflammation is a common feature of many human diseases. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that it is also integral to a variety of core biological processes, including metabolism, wound healing, and neurological development. This special issue highlights recent advances in our understanding of inflammation biology, especially its role in homeostasis, cell death, interorgan cross-talk, and viral infection. See page 1068.

Illustration: Maria Corte

ONLINE COVER Helical-shaped microalgae deliver curcumin (yellow) to inflamed intestinal tissues. Zhong et al. developed a new oral drug delivery strategy using Spirulina algae loaded with curcumin to treat symptoms of colon cancer and colitis, two types of intestinal diseases. The curcumin-loaded algae's unique spiral structure allows for more efficient delivery, improving the drug's effectiveness and reducing intestinal inflammation. The microalgae-based system may also offer anti-tumor and anti-inflammation properties for intestinal disease therapies. As a renewable resource, microalgal biomass could open new avenues for more innovative diagnostic and treatment options for intestinal disease.

ONLINE COVER Disrupted Defense. This month's cover features a transmission electron microscopy image of an ileal crypt in a 12-week-old mouse deficient in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Two largely intact Paneth cells with electron-dense secretory granules and layered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are located at the crypt base (lower right). Above these cells are other Paneth cells with substantial ultrastructural alterations including loss of layered ER, accumulation of cytoplasmic vesicles, and degenerating mitochondria. Work from Strigli et al. and Wahilda et al. investigates how XIAP mutations contribute to a Mendelian form of Crohn's disease. A Focus commentary by Azabdaftari and Uhlig discusses the linkages between XIAP deficiency, Paneth cell dysfunction, and the intestinal microbiome.

ONLINE COVER Deep Dive. Long-term monitoring of deep ocean processes will lead to a better understanding of the oceanic carbon cycle. Smith et al. have developed a deep sea rover capable of measuring water temperature, oxygen concentration, current velocity and sediment community oxygen consumption at abyssal depths. The deep sea mobile robot, named Benthic Rover II, was deployed in the northeast Pacific Ocean in 1-year intervals for over 5 years at a depth of 4000 m. This month's cover is an illustration of the Benthic Rover II in action.

ONLINE COVER This week, Jafari et al. show that small extracellular vesicles carry a metastasis-promoting protein from insulin-resistant adipocytes to cocultured breast cancer cells. The image shows vimentin staining in breast cancer cells.

ONLINE COVER Capping COPD Progression. This image reveals increased amounts of microRNA (miR)-21 (red) in biopsied lung cells (blue) from a patient with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Kim et al. identified progressive elevation of miR-21 in humans and mice with COPD. miR-21 was found to decrease special AT-rich sequence binding protein concentrations, leading to increased S100 calcium binding protein A9 and NF-κB activity and worsened COPD in mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Treatment with a miR-21-specific antagomir after development of COPD led to suppressed airway inflammation, improved small airway fibrosis, and improvement in lung function in these mice, suggesting that this miR-21-driven pathway may be useful in developing more targeted treatments for COPD.