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Aims: Excess mortality during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been studied in many countries. Accounting for population aging has important implications for excess mortality estimates. We show the importance of adjustment for age trends in a small-scale mortality analysis as well as the importance of analysing different pandemic phases for mortality in an urban population. Methods: Population data for Frankfurt/Main for 2016–2021 were obtained from the Municipal Office of Statistics, City of Frankfurt/Main. Mortality data from 2016 to 2021 were provided by the Hessian State Authority. For standardized mortality ratios (SMR=observed number of deaths divided by the expected number of deaths), the expected number of deaths was calculated in two ways: For SMR, the mean mortality rate from the years 2016–2019 was multiplied by the total number of residents in 2020 and 2021 separately. For SMR, this procedure was performed separately for five age groups, and the numbers of expected deaths per age group were added. Results: SMR was 1.006 (95% CI: 0.980–1.031) in 2020, and 1.047 (95% CI: 1.021–1.073) in 2021. SMR was 0.976 (95% CI: 0.951–1.001) in 2020 and 0.998 (95% CI: 0.973–1.023) in 2021. Excess mortality was observed during pandemic wave 2, but not during pandemic waves 1 and 3. Conclusion: Taking the aging of the population into account, no excess mortality was observed in Frankfurt/Main in 2020 and 2021. Without adjusting for population aging trends in Frankfurt /Main, mortality would have been greatly overestimated.

The article focuses on the findings of influenza-associated excess morality from monthly total mortality data for Germany for 1947 to 2000. The association between mortality and influenza is an important factor and is often done by basically trying to estimate the expected mortality from comparable influenza-free periods. The use of correlations between influenza activity or influenza-specific mortality and general mortality is difficult. Usually, there are no precise enough influenza data for a sufficiently long period and the correlation of the activity parameter--as test results and morbidity--to mortality is not very tight and unclear. Hence influenza surveillance data are mostly used in a qualitative way--in the presence of influenza activity or not. The correlation with influenza-specific mortality is not clear as well, and may be influenced by coding and the proportion of influenza pneumonia and deaths due to other complications, which may underlie high annual variation due to affected age groups, circulating strain etc.

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was adapted for segregation analysis in sugar beet. 83 I[sub&fracOI;] individuals were scored with a set of 20 arbitrary decamer primers. 4 preliminary linkage groups could be established, enclosing 9 RAPD markers, 2 isozyme loci, a gene for the hypocotyl colour and a gene for resistance to the root knot nematode (Heterodera schachtii Schm.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before and during peak influenza periods there is increased morbidity from other respiratory tract disorders. Sentinel networks of primary care physicians can be very effective in the early detection of influenza epidemics and the German network, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Influenza (AGI), began its work in this area in 1992. Data are transmitted weekly from the doctor's computer via Btx to a central computer. The numerator is the weekly number of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in five age groups and the denominator is the weekly number of patient consultations. Data on hospitalisation, mortality, and days of sick leave from work or school are also collected. Swabs for influenza specimens are collected in 30 physicians' offices each Monday and sent to three reference centres. During the last recording period, from week 46 1993 to week 15 1994, 411 physicians' offices participated in the network. For 16 to 22 weeks, more than 60% of the participants transmitted data. During both the 1992-93 and 1993-94 influenza seasons, peaks were observed in the rate of ARI. There was a corresponding increase in sick leave from work and school. Rates for hospitalisation and deaths due to influenza showed no peaks during either season. Although the German sentinel network for influenza experienced some technical problems in the first year, it was possible to solve these. Reporting rates were very satisfactory in the second year. The network will now be expanded to include 750 physicians in order to receive 600 weekly reports and obtain a solid baseline for an early warning system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linkage analysis of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was performed with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-markers. From three segregating populations, a combined genetic map was constructed which comprises 85 RAPD, five isozyme, one RFLP marker and the genes for resistance against the nematode Heterodera schachtii Schm., one restorer locus for male sterility and the genes for annuality and hypocotyl colour. For mapping of the two unlinked restorer genes a statistical model was developed based on the maximum-likelihood function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid identification of agronomically important genes is of pivotal interest for crop breeding. One source of such genes are crop wild relative (CWR) populations. Here we used a CWR population of <200 wild beets (B. vulgaris ssp. maritima), sampled in their natural habitat, to identify the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) resistance gene Rz2 with a modified version of mapping-by-sequencing (MBS). For that, we generated a draft genome sequence of the wild beet. Our results show the importance of preserving CWR in situ and demonstrate the great potential of CWR for rapid discovery of causal genes relevant for crop improvement. The candidate gene for Rz2 was identified by MBS and subsequently corroborated via RNA interference (RNAi). Rz2 encodes a CC-NB-LRR protein. Access to the DNA sequence of Rz2 opens the path to improvement of resistance towards rhizomania not only by marker-assisted breeding but also by genome editing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a bibliography on geomicrobiology, compiled as of January 2004.

A general procedure based on electrostatic self-assembly for preparing nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ternary chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles is shown. This was achieved by surface functionalization of the single components through well-established protocols, for CNTs, and a transferable general strategy for the nanoparticles. Heterostructures were then synthesized through electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged components. Structural, colloidal, and optical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential, and absorption- and (time-resolved) photoluminescence measurements. Interestingly, the nanocomposites showed a blue shift in their excitation and emission spectra when compared to the pure nanoparticles but only when analyzed in powder form. Further investigations in the form of density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to evaluate the origin of the change in the optical properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: During shortages of filtering face pieces (FFP) in a pandemic, it is necessary to implement a method for safe reuse or extended use. Our aim was to develop a simple, inexpensive and ecological method for decontamination of disposable FFPs that preserves filtration efficiency and material integrity., Material and Methods: Contamination of FFPs (3M Aura 9320+) with SARS-CoV-2 (1.15 × 10 4 PFUs), Enterococcus faecium (>10 6 CFUs), and physiological nasopharyngeal flora was performed prior to decontamination by submersion in a solution of 6 % acetic acid and 6 % hydrogen peroxide (6%AA/6%HP solution) over 30 minutes. Material integrity was assessed by testing the filtering efficiency, loss of fit and employing electron microscopy., Results and Discussion: Decontamination with the 6%AA/6%HP solution resulted in the complete elimination of SARS-CoV-2, E. faecium and physiological nasopharyngeal flora. Material characterization post-treatment showed neither critical material degradation, loss of fit or reduction of filtration efficiency. Electron microscopy revealed no damage to the fibers, and the rubber bands' elasticity was not affected by the decontamination procedure. No concerning residuals of the decontamination procedure were found., Conclusion: The simple application and widespread availability of 6%AA/6%HP solution for decontaminating disposable FFPs make this solution globally viable, including developing and third world countries., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The European monitoring of excess mortality for public health action (EuroMOMO) network monitors weekly excess all-cause mortality in 27 European countries or subnational areas. During the first wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Europe in spring 2020, several countries experienced extraordinarily high levels of excess mortality. Europe is currently seeing another upsurge in COVID-19 cases, and EuroMOMO is again witnessing a substantial excess all-cause mortality attributable to COVID-19.

A remarkable excess mortality has coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. We present preliminary pooled estimates of all-cause mortality for 24 European countries/federal states participating in the European monitoring of excess mortality for public health action (EuroMOMO) network, for the period March-April 2020. Excess mortality particularly affected  ≥ 65 year olds (91% of all excess deaths), but also 45-64 (8%) and 15-44 year olds (1%). No excess mortality was observed in 0-14 year olds.

In 2011, the Shiga toxin- and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 caused a serious outbreak of gastroenteritis in Germany. This strain carried bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(TEM-1) on an IncI1-ST31 plasmid. During screening of individuals at risk for acquisition of the epidemic E. coli O104:H4, we isolated another ESBL-producing and Shiga toxin-positive E. coli belonging to serotype O91:H14 from feces of a human patient. Interestingly, the patient also carried a further ESBL-producing but Shiga toxin-negative E. coli. Both strains harbored bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(TEM-1) on an IncI1-ST31 plasmid, which was indistinguishable regarding size and plasmid restriction pattern from the plasmid of the epidemic E. coli O104:H4 strain. The patient had traveled to India 6 months prior to the isolation of the E. coli strains. This is the first report of an ESBL-producing, Shiga toxin-positive E. coli of serogroup O91. Our data suggest a high propensity of the IncI1-ST31 plasmid to spread in the human and/or animal population., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Influenza vaccines contain Influenza A and B antigens and are adjusted annually to match the characteristics of circulating viruses. In Germany, Influenza B viruses belonged to the B/Yamagata lineage, but since 2001, the antigenically distinct B/Victoria lineage has been co-circulating. Trivalent influenza vaccines (TIV) contain antigens of the two A subtypes A(H3N2) and A(H1N1), yet of only one B lineage, resulting in frequent vaccine mismatches. Since 2012, the WHO has been recommending vaccine strains from both B lineages, paving the way for quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV)., Methods: Using an individual-based simulation tool, we simulate the concomitant transmission of four influenza strains, and compare the effects of TIV and QIV on the infection incidence. Individuals are connected in a dynamically evolving age-dependent contact network based on the POLYMOD matrix; their age-distribution reproduces German demographic data and predictions. The model considers maternal protection, boosting of existing immunity, loss of immunity, and cross-immunizing events between the B lineages. Calibration to the observed annual infection incidence of 10.6% among young adults yielded a basic reproduction number of 1.575. Vaccinations are performed annually in October and November, whereby coverage depends on the vaccinees' age, their risk status and previous vaccination status. New drift variants are introduced at random time points, leading to a sudden loss of protective immunity for part of the population and occasionally to reduced vaccine efficacy. Simulations run for 50 years, the first 30 of which are used for initialization. During the final 20 years, individuals receive TIV or QIV, using a mirrored simulation approach., Results: Using QIV, the mean annual infection incidence can be reduced from 8,943,000 to 8,548,000, i.e. by 395,000 infections, preventing 11.2% of all Influenza B infections which still occur with TIV (95% CI: 10.7-11.8%). Using a lower B lineage cross protection than the baseline 60%, the number of Influenza B infections increases and the number additionally prevented by QIV can be 5.5 times as high., Conclusions: Vaccination with TIV substantially reduces the Influenza incidence compared to no vaccination. Depending on the assumed degree of B lineage cross protection, QIV further reduces Influenza B incidence by 11-33%.

In February and March 2012, excess deaths among the elderly have been observed in 12 European countries that carry out weekly monitoring of all-cause mortality. These preliminary data indicate that the impact of influenza in Europe differs from the recent pandemic and post-pandemic seasons. The current excess mortality among the elderly may be related to the return of influenza A(H3N2) virus, potentially with added effects of a cold snap.

During the recent outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O104:H4 in Germany most cases notified in the State of Hesse (6 million inhabitants) were linked to satellite clusters or had travelled to the outbreak area in northern Germany. Intensified surveillance was introduced to rapidly identify cases not linked to known clusters or cases and thus to obtain timely information on possible further contaminated vehicles distributed in Hesse, as well to describe the risk of secondary transmission among known cases. As of 2 August 2011* [corrected], 56 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) including two fatal cases, and 124 cases of STEC gastroenteritis meeting the national case definitions have been reported in Hesse. Among the 55 HUS and 81 STEC gastroenteritis cases thatmet the outbreak case definition, one HUS case and eight STEC gastroenteritis cases may have acquired their infection through secondary transmission. They include six possible transmissions within the family, two possible nosocomial and one possible laboratory transmission. Our results do not suggest an increased transmissibility of the outbreak strain compared to what is already known about E. coli O157 and other STEC serotypes.

Background: In Germany, surveillance for infectious disease outbreaks is integrated into an electronic surveillance system. For 2007, the national surveillance database contains case-based information on 201,224 norovirus cases, three-quarters of which are linked to outbreaks. We evaluated the data quality of the national database in reflecting nosocomial norovirus outbreak (NNO) data available in 19 Hessian local public health authorities (LPHAs) and the influence of differences between LPHA's follow-up procedures for laboratory notifications of Norovirus positive stool samples on outbreak underascertainment., Methods: Data on NNO beginning in 2007 and notified to the 19 LPHAs were extracted from the national database, investigated regarding internal validity and compared to data collected from LPHAs for a study on NNO control. LPHAs were questioned whether they routinely contacted all persons for whom a laboratory diagnosis of norovirus infection was notified. The number of outbreaks per 1,000 hospital beds and the number of cases within NNOs for acute care and rehabilitation hospitals were compared between counties with and without complete follow-up., Results: The national database contained information on 155 NNOs, including 3,115 cases. Cases were missed in the national database in 58 (37%) of the outbreaks. Information on hospitalisation was incorrect for an estimated 47% of NNO cases. Information on county of infection was incorrect for 24% (199/820) of cases being forwarded between LPHAs for data entry. Reported NNO incidence and number of NNO cases in acute care hospitals was higher in counties with complete follow-up (incidence-rate ratio (IRR) 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.7, p-value 0.002 and IRR 2.1, 95% CI 1.9-2.4, p-value 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: Many NNOs are not notified by hospitals and differences in LPHA procedures have an impact on the number of outbreaks captured in the surveillance system. Forwarding of case-by-case data on Norovirus outbreak cases from the local to the state and national level should not be required.

During the autumn wave of the pandemic influenza virus A/(H1N1) 2009 (pIV) the German population was offered an AS03-adjuvanted vaccine. The authors compared results of two methods calculating the effectiveness of the vaccine (VE). The test-negative case-control method used data from virologic surveillance including influenza-positive and negative patients. An innovative case-series methodology explored data from all nationally reported laboratory-confirmed influenza cases. The proportion of reported cases occurring in vaccinees during an assumed unprotected phase after vaccination was compared with that occurring in vaccinees during their assumed protected phase. The test-negative case-control method included 1,749 pIV cases and 2,087 influenza test-negative individuals of whom 6 (0.3%) and 36 (1.7%), respectively, were vaccinated. The case series method included data from 73,280 cases. VE in the two methods was 79% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 35-93%; P = 0.007) and 87% (95% CI = 78-92%; P<0.001) for individuals less than 14 years of age and 70% (95% CI = -45%-94%, P = 0.13) and 74% (95% CI = 64-82%; P<0.001) for individuals above the age of 14. Both methods yielded similar VE in both age groups; and VE for the younger age group seemed to be higher.

Campylobacter infection is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. This study examines the association between campylobacteriosis incidence and degree of urbanicity in Hesse, Germany, by age and Campylobacter species. During a one-year period (July 2005–June 2006), Hessian local health authorities provided information on municipality of residence for 3,315 campylobacteriosis cases. We calculated age- and Campylobacter species-specific incidences for six levels of urbanicity, as defined by population density and accessibility of centres. For children under five years old, living in inner rural areas (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9 to 4.4) and for children aged 5–14 years living in inner rural (IRR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.1) or intermediate areas (inner intermediate area IRR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.7; outer intermediate area IRR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.3) was associated with a statistically significantly higher campylobacteriosis risk (reference category: inner urban area). Calculations by Campylobacter species showed a higher risk of gastroenteritis due to C. coli for inhabitants (all ages) of non-urban areas. This study suggests that differences in risk factors by age, Campylobacter species and degree of urbanicity do exist. For children contact with animals or the environment may be responsible for a substantial proportion of sporadic Campylobacter infections.

The paper describes weekly fluctuations of all-cause mortality observed in eight European countries during the period between week 27 and 51, 2009, in comparison with three previous years. Our preliminary data show that the mortality reported during the 2009 influenza pandemic did not reach levels normally seen during seasonal influenza epidemics. However, there was a cumulative excess mortality of 77 cases (1 per 100,000 population) in 5-14-year-olds, and possibly also among 0-4-year-olds.

In 2005, a marked increase in hantavirus infections was observed in Germany. Large cities and areas where hantaviruses were not known to be endemic were affected. A case-control study identified the following independent risk factors for infection: occupational exposure for construction workers, living <100 meter from forested areas, and exposure to mice.

A survey of directors and employees of 36 long-term care facilities in Hesse, Germany, revealed that influenza vaccine uptake among staff was less than 30% in 30 and greater than 50% in 6. The study identified policies and practices associated with vaccination uptake at long-term care facilities and factors associated with the decision of staff to get vaccinated.

Influenza-associated excess mortality is widely used to assess the severity of influenza epidemics. In Germany, however, it is not yet established as a routine component of influenza surveillance. We therefore applied a simple method based on the annual distribution of monthly relative mortality (relative mortality distribution method, RMDM) to a time-series of German monthly all-cause mortality data from 1985-2001 to estimate influenza-associated excess mortality. Results were compared to those obtained by cyclical regression. Both methods distinguished stronger from milder influenza seasons, but RMDM gave the better fit (R2 = 0.80). For the years after reunification, i.e. 1990/91 through 2000/01, RMDM yielded an average of 6900 (conservative estimate) to 13,600 influenza-associated excess deaths per season (crude estimate). The most severe epidemics occurred during subtype A/H3N2 seasons. While German all-cause mortality declined over the study period, the number of excess deaths displayed an upward trend, coinciding with an increase of the proportion of the elderly population.

Objectives: Death attributable to influenza is noted under various causes in the mortality statistics. Therefore, excess of total mortality is frequently used for the estimation of the entire impact of influenza on mortality. Various models for the estimation of the expected mortality are in use but are rather complex which hampers their routine use. A simple and hence transparent model was developed and applied to the total mortality in Germany from 1947 to 2000., Methods: The method is based on the pattern of the distribution of the mortality over the months. Additional trends over the time could be included with simple factors. In this manner the model was applicable over the total observation period., Results: The fit for the months where influenza was not epidemic was good and comparable to other models (R2 = 0.91). The estimated excess mortality is plausible and congruent with estimates based on other models., Conclusion: This method is applicable to long time series of any duration and obvious trends could be considered by simple factors in a readily identifiable and plausible way. Possible reductions in precision due to the consideration of a given monthly distribution pattern of the annual mortality seem tolerable with respect to the goodness of fit of the model. The estimation includes the pandemics of 1957/58 and 1968 to 1970.

The marine Roseobacter clade comprises several genera of marine bacteria related to the uncultured SAR83 cluster, the second most abundant marine picoplankton lineage. Cultivated representatives of this clade are physiologically heterogeneous, and only some have the capability for aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis, a process of potentially great ecological importance in the world's oceans. In an attempt to correlate phylogeny with ecology, we investigated the diversity of Roseobacter clade strains from various marine habitats (water samples, biofilms, laminariae, diatoms, and dinoflagellate cultures) by using the 16S rRNA gene as a phylogenetic marker gene. The potential for aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis was determined on the genetic level by PCR amplification and sequencing of the pufLM genes of the bacterial photosynthesis reaction center and on the physiological level by detection of bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl) a. A collection of ca. 1,000 marine isolates was screened for members of the marine Roseobacter clade by 16S rRNA gene-directed multiplex PCR and sequencing. The 42 Roseobacter clade isolates found tended to form habitat-specific subclusters. The pufLM genes were detected in two groups of strains from dinoflagellate cultures but in none of the other Roseobacter clade isolates. Strains within the first group (the DFL-12 cluster) also synthesized Bchl a. Strains within the second group (the DFL-35 cluster) formed a new species of Roseovarius and did not produce Bchl a under the conditions investigated here, thus demonstrating the importance of genetic methods for screening of cultivation-dependent metabolic traits. The pufL genes of the dinoflagellate isolates were phylogenetically closely related to pufL genes from Betaproteobacteria, confirming similar previous observations which have been interpreted as indications of gene transfer events.

The European Influenza Surveillance Scheme is a collaboration with 18 member countries (2001/02) which monitors the activity and impact of influenza by collecting morbidity and virological data in primary care facilities throughout the winter season each year. Despite being in principle similar in the surveillance concept, the indicators used and observations made are very different. Different healthcare systems and organisational needs (eg a certificate of illness for the employer) influence the consultation behaviour. Furthermore, and partly as a result of differences in the healthcare systems, the definitions used for the numerator and denominator when calculating morbidity rates are different. Thus comparative interpretation of participating countries' morbidity data is extremely difficult. Reporting 'harmonisation' by using equivalent numerators and denominators is one option but is difficult to achieve in the short term. Moreover, several additional issues would need to be considered, for example, the need for continuity of surveillance and whether such steps would indeed result in direct comparability etc. A simple index was tested, through which the impact of influenza morbidity in any one year is compared with what is considered a 'usual' epidemic in that country. The index in principle describes numerically the extent to which the influenza-attributable excess morbidity in the current epidemic in each country is within, exceeds, or is less than a range typical for an influenza epidemic. In this pilot study, the usefulness of such an index is explored with the example of eight countries for the seasons 1999/2000 and 2000/01. A fine tuning of the methods has not yet been performed.