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Background Risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 has remained high among health care personnel (HCP) throughout the pandemic, due to both exposure in the community and occupational settings. While vaccine uptake among health care workers is high, real-world continual monitoring of vaccine effectiveness (VE) among this population is crucial for informing future vaccination and prevention efforts. Methods Data for this analysis came from a test-negative case-control study conducted among HCP working at two acute care hospitals in Monroe County, NY from December 2020 through March 2022, performed as part of the CDC Emerging Infections Program. Case participants were identified as HCP who had at least one COVID-19 like symptom, and a positive polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) SARS-CoV-2 test during the study time period. Control participants had a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, regardless of presence of COVID-19 like symptoms. Cases and controls were matched based on the study week of their test date. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection. Effectiveness was assessed between December 2020-May 2021, May 2021-October 2021, and October 2021-March 2022. Results From December 28th, 2020 through March 12th, 2022, 881 cases and 1794 controls were enrolled. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection was greatest from December 2020 through May 2021, with mRNA complete series effectiveness at 93.1% (95% CI: 86.9%-96.3%) with complete series VE falling to 25.1% (95% CI: 0.0%-50.9%) during May 2021-October 2021. Waning immunity following receipt of second dose was observed across all time periods. Vaccine effectiveness following receipt of one booster vaccine was found to be 59.2% (95% CI: 43.5-70.6), with evidence of waning immunity two months from receipt of the booster (VE: 46.6%; 95% CI: 14.6%-66.7%). Conclusion Protection provided by the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against symptomatic infection is highly variable among HCP, based on the circulating dominant variant and the time since receipt of each dose. Monitoring of vaccine effectiveness, as well as waning immunity, among this high-risk population is essential to guide future vaccine policies. Disclosures christopher J. Myers, MS, Infectious diseases, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Ghinwa Dumyati, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support.

Biological soil crusts are ecologically important communities in areas where vascular plant coverage is low, and their presence is often vital in prevention of soil erosion. Despite recurrent threats to biological soil crusts across different environments, their recovery after disturbance has been little studied. We therefore established experiments across a latitudinal gradient in Europe, from Oland, Sweden in the north, to Gossenheim, Germany and Hochtor, Austria, to Almeria, Spain in the south, spanning over 20° latitude and 2,300 m in altitude, and including natural and semi-natural sites. At each site 10 (1 × 1 m) paired plots were constructed where the biological soil crusts were either completely removed, or left intact. Over a 2-year period (2012–2014) the plots were regularly sampled to assess functional group recovery (cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants), soil stability, and chlorophyll, carbon, and nutrient contents. Cyanobacterial assemblages were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, a technique used to detect DNA in environmental samples. The results indicated that recovery was site dependent, suggesting that physical and climatic parameters play a major role in biological soil crust recovery. This conclusion is supported by the results of the soil properties, which were found to differ between sites, although they did not show meaningful recovery over the study period. Although 2 years was insufficient for pronounced biological soil crust recovery, this study documents changes over the initial recovery period, suggests management practices for future projects, and recommends proxies for measuring recovery over time.

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) provide important ecosystem services in dryland regions, including erosion control and contribution to nitrogen and CO2 fixation. As soil microorganisms are still rarely studied within the context of biodiversity planning, we describe, as a contribution to the Soil Crust International project, an approach that addresses this gap in biodiversity assessments. The purpose of the present study was a characterization of prokaryotic communities of BSCs formed by two species of lichenized fungi, Psora decipiens and Toninia sedifolia, in relation to surrounding BSCs and the below-crust soil layer from Tabernas basin (Almeria, Spain). Microbial community profiles were determined using 454 pyrosequencing targeting the V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene. The majority of the 65,497 sequences obtained belonged to Proteobacteria (mainly Alphaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria were more abundant at the soil surface but rare in below-crust soils, whilst below-crust soils harbored significantly more Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Gemmatimonadetes, Planctomycetes and Armatimonadetes. Additionally, terricolous lichens were investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization in conjunction with confocal laser scanning microscopy, the objective being to illustrate bacterial niches in BSC-forming lichens. Bacteria were mainly present at the upper cortex of the squamules and attachment organs. Our findings indicate that the composition of soil prokaryotes varies at a small scale not only in adjacent soil layers but also in BSC-forming lichen species. Furthermore, bacteria were shown to be attached to fungal structures, probably representing a case of fungal-bacterial interaction.

Here we report details of the European research initiative “Soil Crust International” (SCIN) focusing on the biodiversity of biological soil crusts (BSC, composed of bacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes) and on functional aspects in their specific environment. Known as the so-called “colored soil lichen community” (Bunte Erdflechtengesellschaft), these BSCs occur all over Europe, extending into subtropical and arid regions. Our goal is to study the uniqueness of these BSCs on the regional scale and investigate how this community can cope with large macroclimatic differences. One of the major aims of this project is to develop biodiversity conservation and sustainable management strategies for European BSCs. To achieve this, we established a latitudinal transect from the Great Alvar of Öland, Sweden in the north over Gössenheim, Central Germany and Hochtor in the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria down to the badlands of Tabernas, Spain in the south. The transect stretches over 20° latitude and 2,300 m in altitude, including natural (Hochtor, Tabernas) and semi-natural sites that require maintenance such as by grazing activities (Öland, Gössenheim). At all four sites BSC coverage exceeded 30 % of the referring landscape, with the alpine site (Hochtor) reaching the highest cyanobacterial cover and the two semi-natural sites (Öland, Gössenheim) the highest bryophyte cover. Although BSCs of the four European sites share a common set of bacteria, algae (including cyanobacteria) lichens and bryophytes, first results indicate not only climate specific additions of species, but also genetic/phenotypic uniqueness of species between the four sites. While macroclimatic conditions are rather different, microclimatic conditions and partly soil properties seem fairly homogeneous between the four sites, with the exception of water availability. Continuous activity monitoring of photosystem II revealed the BSCs of the Spanish site as the least active in terms of photosynthetic active periods. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10531-014-0645-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

GRUBER, J. P. & PEER, T. 2012. A contribution to the knowledge of the bryophyte flora of the mountains of North Pakistan (Autonomous Region of Gilgit-Baltistan). - Herzogia 25: 271–285. This paper provides an annotated list of a collection of bryophytes found in the mountain area of North Pakistan. It is based on a total of 161 specimens (151 of mosses and 10 of liverworts), covering 76 species and 22 families. The plants were collected from selected sites over two field excursions in 1998 and 1999. The list represents about a fifth of the known Pakistani bryoflora. Four species on the list are recorded as new for Pakistan, three of these were already published in previous papers.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was conducted in the present study, in order to explore mechanisms involved in Pb tolerance and detoxification in two species of Lespedeza (Fabaceae). Both Lespedeza chinensis and Lespedeza davidii have been recently shown to be suitable for chelate-assisted Pb phytoremediation. Ultrastructural alterations, Pb localization and speciation in leaf and root cells of both species were investigated after Pb exposure. Additionally, the influence of EDTA which facilitates Pb translocation in plants was investigated. In general, deleterious effects were more pronounced in root cells of both species than in leaf cells. Similar ultrastructural alterations such as vacuolization and dilation of the nuclear envelopes were induced in leaf and root cells of both species by Pb treatment. The effects were intensified with the addition of EDTA. Autophagy occurred only in leaf cells of L. davidii after Pb and Pb plus EDTA treatment, and in root cells of both species after Pb treatment. Moreover, electron-dense deposits with variable shapes such as acicular, granulated, punctuated and amorphous, were present in cell walls, intercellular spaces, cytoplasm and vacuoles of root cells of both species after Pb and Pb plus EDTA treatment. These deposits contained Pb as identified via the Pb-M 4,5 edge by EELS in a 120 kV TEM. As phosphorus was always measured at the sites of Pb deposition, it is likely that Pb in Lespedeza is stored as lead phosphate particularly in cell walls and vacuoles. The occasional presence of S and Ca in Pb depositions may point to additional other Pb compounds. Our studies suggest that Pb is transported both in apoplastic and symplastic pathways, independent of the presence or absence of EDTA. Different possible detoxification strategies such as sequestration in cell walls or compartmentalization in vacuoles exist both in L. chinensis and L. davidii . Only minor differences in ultrastructural alterations and Pb localization were observed between two species.

The ability of Lespedeza chinensis G. Don and Lespedeza davidii France of the family Fabaceae for Pb tolerance and accumulation in the presence and absence of the chelating agent EDTA was studied. Plants were cultured in soils containing different concentrations of Pb and Pb plus EDTA for 75 days. In the absence of EDTA, Pb supplement had no negative influence on plant growth of both species, however, stimulated the increase of shoot and root biomass of L. chinensis and L. davidii. Correspondingly, Pb accumulation in plants was low, and most of Pb was accumulated in roots, even though high doses of Pb had been supplied in soils. In the presence of EDTA, the Pb accumulation in all parts of both species was promoted, especially the translocation from roots to leaves. Regarding the influences of Pb and Pb plus EDTA treatment on the mineral nutrients, such as Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in plants, Pb supplement resulted in both increase and decrease of mineral nutrients in L. chinensis and L. davidii in the absence of EDTA. In the presence of EDTA, the accumulation of mineral nutrients in plants was facilitated with the exception of Mn. The present results indicate that L. chinensis and L. davidii are Pb tolerant. Both plants can be used as potential species for chelate-assisted Pb phytoremediation. L. davidii has greater potential for phytoremediation of Pb than L. chinensis.

As chromium is widely used in many industries of which leather industries are the biggest consumers, wastes from tanneries pose a serious threat to the environment. Present research conducted greenhouse pot experiments on several plants using different solutions to find out their phytoextraction potential. Among the plants, Urtica dioica found to be very effective due to its higher uptake capacity for chromium. The analyses showed that with 500 mg/l solutions Cr concentration in roots was 38.9% higher (average 20 mg/kg) than plants fed with 200 mg/l solutions (phytostabilisation), while with 200 mg/l solutions more Cr was transported to leaves (phytoextraction), 10.52% higher (average 9.5 mg/kg) concentration than plants fed with 500 mg/l solutions, but also means that plants were less affected by toxicity. Zea mays showed high tolerance towards Cr with negligible concentration in leaves. Although average Cr concentration in Brassica napus is lower (25% and 21% for 200 mg/l and 500 mg/l solutions respectively) than Urtica dioica which still could account for phytoextraction, but due to its high vulnerability to insects its potentiality has downgraded. Among other elements, K being a component of the salt, played significant role for plants growth and survival—opening new avenue for phytoremediation of contaminated sites.

In the present work, rapid test methods for field screening of soil for Cu, Ni, and Pb content are presented. They are based on commercially obtainable Microquant tests (Merck, Germany), which are originally developed for water analysis. The same type of color reaction was also used for the determination of heavy metals in soil extracts: Reagents to form colored metal complexes are cuprizone for Cu, dimethylglyoxime for Ni, and dithizone for Pb. The experimental conditions for the colorimetric determination of these metals in the soil extracts were studied and additionally modified. An aqua regia solution (HCl/HNO3, 3:1) was used for the rapid extraction of metals from soil. To establish accuracy, results obtained with the proposed test methods were compared with those obtained with the standard laboratory method using microwave digestion and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Real soil samples containing metals at background levels generally yielded approximately 50% of the total content obtained with the standard FAAS method. High recovery values of spiked samples confirm that the colorimetric methods are unaffected by soil matrix effects.

Industrial wastes generated from tanneries located in the southwestern part of Dhaka, pose serious threat to the environment. Surface accumulation of trivalent chromium reaching as high as 28,000 mg/kg have been encountered at 1 km distance from the waste lagoon. In contrast, maximum concentration of hexavalent chromium is about 1 mg/kg, and is very irregularly distributed all over the area. Although soil pH is alkaline in general, a sharp drop of pH down to 3.4 has been observed at some locations. Furthermore, high chloride (Cl) and lead (Pb) concentrations pose risk for city’s groundwater quality, of which Pb is vulnerable for any chelate-assisted phytoremediation as it can enhance its mobility. Scanning electron microscope study showed chromium within the structure of clay minerals, mainly illite–smectite, and also as chlorite–chromian. Presence of lepidocrocite indicates a rather reactive phase which can undergo reductive dissolution and release Cr in the environment.

The Gastein valley in the Central Part of the Austrian Alps was one of the regions most heavily affected by fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe, depositing (137)Cs inventory up to 70 kBq/m(2) in May 1986. In many studies dealing with the uptake of (137)Cs by vegetation used for farming, a significant correlation between (137)Cs concentration in the plants and altitude a.s.l. has been observed. In order to quantify the influence of the composition of plant communities on the average (137)Cs concentration in vegetation on farmland, plant-specific activity concentrations in plant species have been determined. Alongside a transect from valley sites at 850 m a.s.l. to alpine pastures at 1660 m, the aggregated transfer factors C(ag) (m(2)/kg) have been measured for plant communities and plant species. C(ag) values for mixed vegetation are more or less similar in valley sites, but they increase exponentially with a doubling height of 122+/-22 m above appr. 1200 m altitude a.s.l. On average all species are affected by this increase in a similar way. C(ag) values of ubiquitous plant indicate that the composition of plant communities is of minor importance for the contamination of mixed vegetation.

The main function of the epidermis is to protect us against a multitude of hostile attacks from the environment. Its main cell type, the keratinocytes have a sophisticated system of different proteins and lipids available to form the cornified envelope, which is responsible for the barrier function of the skin. During ageing, dramatic changes are taking place. Some proteins of the SPRR-, S100- and LCE3-family are massively up-regulated, whereas others like loricrin, filaggrin and the LCE1&2 protein families are significantly down-regulated. The latter ones are known to be under control of calcium and/or 'calcium response elements'. We were able to show that the calcium peak specific for the stratum granulosum, which is the site where loricrin and the LCE1&2 families are synthesized, is reduced during ageing. The resulting cornified envelope in old skin has an extensively changed composition on the molecular level compared to young skin. This knowledge is of critical importance to understand chronic wound formation and ulcers in old age.

Samples of soil, plants, and lichens were analysed for heavy metal content (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in relation to different distances from the tunnel ventilation systems in order to evaluate the environmental pollution caused by car exhausts pollution from the Tauerntunnel and the Katschbergtunnel (Austria). Results show that the extent of heavy metal pollution is related to the type of tunnel ventilation system. The vertical ventilation system which ends in an exhaust air tower in the alpine pasture of Mosermandl 1,900 m above sea level contaminates soils and plants up to a distance of 750 m from the exhaust source. The dispersion of metals in front of the horizontal ventilation systems, which are located next to the tunnel portals, exhibits a rapid decrease with distance. Lichen transplants placed in front of the horizontal ventilation systems show very high metal accumulation, which gradually declines with the distance from the emitter source, therefore the lichen species Pseudevernia furfuracea can be used as a very efficient biomonitor for monitoring heavy metal pollution caused by tunnel exhausts over time. Data from former years (1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992) and from this present research suggest that the contamination of heavy metals at Mosermandl has decreased slightly in soil samples, except for Cu, but increased in plant samples, whereas a significant increase of Pb was observed.

Es werden die Genista radiata-Bestände an der Mendel in Südtirol (Italien) beschrieben und ihr Gesellschaftsanschluß diskutiert. Das Genisto-Festucetum alpestris Peer 83 besidelt steile südexponierte Kalkhänge der hochmontanen und subalpinen Stufe und ersetzt z.T. den Zwergstrauchgürtel mit Pinus mugo. Ähnlich zusammengesetzt ist das Genisto-Festucetum alpestris pinetosum Peer 83, das in den ¡lockeren Erika-Kiefernwäldern auftritt und bis in die tiefmontane Stufe hinunterreicht. Keinerlei syntaxonomische Bedeutung besitzt Genista radiata in den thermophilen Buschwaldgesellschaften, in denen die Pflanze lediglich eine Variante zum Orno-Ostryetum seslerietosum Peer 81 darstellt und speziell in der Saumzone anzutreffen ist. Auch in den Lärchenwiesen der Kammlagen kommt Genista radiata nur sporadisch vor. Sie ist hier mit dem Festucetum nigrescentis laricetosum subass. prov. verzahnt., Istražene su vegetacijske sastojine vrste Genista radiata u južnom Tirolu i razmatrana njihova fitocenološka pripadnost. Asocijacija Genisto-Festucetum alpestris Peer 83 nastava strme, južne vapnenačke obronke visokobrdskog i subalpskog pojasa. Subasocijacija Genisto-Festucetum alpestris pinetosum Peer 83 dolazi u rijetkim borovim šumama s crnjušom i spušta se do u niži brdski pojas. Termofilne niske šume, u kojima Genista radiata nema posebno sintaksonomsko značenje, označene su samo kao varijanta zajednice Orno-Ostryetum seslerietosum Peer 81. Genista radiata dolazi također na travnjacima s arišem, ali samo sporadično i to u mješavini sa zajednicom Festucetum nigrescentis laricetosnm subass. prov., The Genista radiata-communities of the Mendel in the South Tyrol (Italy) are described and their connection to other plant-communities is discussed. Genisto-Festucetum alpestris Peer 83 settles on steep, south- exposed colcareous slopes of high-mountain and subalpine altitudes and replaces particularly the dwarf-shrub-belt with Firms mugo. Similar contents aire found in Genisto-F estucetum alpestris pinetasum Peer 83, which occurs in undensed Erico-Pinetum-communities and reaches down to the low-mountain-altitude. In the thermophilic bush-communities, in which Genista radiata is found only as a variant of Orneto-Ostryetum seslerie- tosum (Peer 81), the plant has no syntaxonomic importance. Genista radiata especially is found in the edge-zone. In the grassland of the larch- communities of the ridges Genista radiata appears only sporadically. Here the plant appeals in Festucetum nigrescentis laricetosum subass. prov.