The link between different plastic waste pollutants and their impact on the natural aquatic environment and food chain remains a constant and growing issue. Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor produced in large quantities primarily in the industry of polycarbonate plastics, can accumulate in vegetal and animal tissue, thus magnifying through trophic levels. In this study we exposed viable specimens of the aquatic plant Lemna minor under controlled conditions to 50, 100 and 200 ppm BPA levels in order to partially observe the toxic effects of BPA. Colonies ceased to form during the exposure and chlorosis was present especially in the 100 ppm group. Interestingly enough, a high density formation of non-fermenting bacteria as well as coliforms was also observed in the BPA exposed cultures but not in the control groups. The levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the vegetal tissue indicated cellular insults and severe damage, results that were correlated with the HPLC BPA determined concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4%.

In the COVID-19 pandemic context, numerous concerns have been raised regarding the hygienic status of certain objects we interact with on a daily basis, and especially cash money and their potential to harbor and transmit pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed different currency bills represented by British pounds (5 £, 10 £ and 20 £), Romanian lei (1 leu, 5 lei and 10 lei), U.S. dollars (1 $, 5 $ and 10 $) and Euros (5 €, 10 € and 20 €) in order to evaluate the bacterial survival rate and bacterial adherence. We used five reference microorganisms by American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA): Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Enterococcus sp. ATCC 19952, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi ATCC 6539, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644. Microorganisms were selected in accordance with the criteria of prevalence, pathogenicity, opportunism, and incidence. However, Maldi-TOF analysis from samples taken from the banknotes revealed only a few of the common pathogens that are traditionally thought to be found on banknotes. Some of the most important factors for the survival of pathogenic agents on surfaces are the presence of organic matter, temperature and humidity. Our data showed that Salmonella enterica survived 72 h on every banknote tested, while L. monocytogenes tended to improve persistence in humid conditions. Survival rate is also influenced by the substrate composition, being lower for polymer-based banknotes especially for Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus sp. The adherence of bacterial strains was lower for polymer-based banknotes British pounds and Romanian Leu, in contrast to the cotton-based U.S dollars and Euro banknotes. The risk of bacterial contamination from the banknote bills is high as indicated by both a strong survival capacity and low adherence of tested bacteria with differences between the two types of materials used for the tested banknotes.

The present study assesses the bacterial composition associated with the skin of the Danube Sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii , emphasizing species that are adherent. Various growth media were employed to cultivate samples collected from a group of 12 sturgeons from the same batch, revealing a diverse and atypical bacterial population. Notably, Ralstonia pickettii is documented here for the first time, as there have been no prior associations reported between this species and either wild or aquaculture sturgeon populations, to the best of our knowledge. The identification of adherent and non-adherent bacterial species present on the integument raises questions and concerns regarding the existing microbial communities in sturgeons.

Many individuals are wearing face masks improperly at ‘half mask’ and potentially breathing out microbes that can contaminate the air as well as anything below the nose. This note provides the first report that bacteria and fungi breathed out during nasal air exhalation are able to be cultured after landing on blood agar plates. The CFU’s are higher after both 10 breaths and extremely significant for 20 breaths compared to the control plates exposed to the air. Implications of this finding are that going ‘nose commando’ may be able to continue the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Minute bioaerosols carrying bacteria may be designated as microsnot.

Four years of observing the respiratory hygiene behaviors or cough etiquette of people in public locations resulted in observing less than two percent properly covering their coughs and sneezes. 86% coughed into their hands, did not immediately clean them, and 11% did not cover their coughs or sneezes. To reduce the spread of respiratory infections there needs to be an increase in proper hygiene behaviors. This is the first study of directly observed respiratory hygiene behaviors while coughing and sneezing among the public in the United States. The study involved observations of 1000 c/s incidents by individuals in public locations, and was concluded at the end of June 2018. The result revealed the percentage of observed behaviors ranged from .3% to 86.2 %. This information is currently critical to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the impact of COVID-19 illness.

Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Entomology Workshop Planning Committee • Steve Bambara, North Carolina State University • Carlos Bográn, Texas A&M University • Eric Day, Virginia Tech • Keith Douce, University of Georgia • Frank Hale, University of Tennessee • Blake Layton, Mississippi State University • Catharine Mannion, University of Florida • Blake Newton, University of Kentucky • Dale Pollet, Louisiana State University • Charles Ray, Auburn University Meeting Website Oral presentations and image galleries of species discussed are located at: http://www.ipmimages.org/spdn/invasive/