ALKBH5 and bacterial infectious disease: However, the ALKBH5-CSF3R mRNA axis can be disrupted upon ALKBH5 deficiency or bacterial infection, leading to m6A modification-induced decay of the CSF3R mRNA and a decreased G-CSFR protein level, which impairs neutrophil production and mobilization and results in failure of the host innate defense (Fig. 7).