Our cultural heritage is a defining feature of our societies that needs to be further inherited to future generations. However, this legacy is endangered by several instances, including biodeterioration. Indeed, microorganisms play a significant role in the decline of all forms of tangible cultural heritage, including movable (paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts), immovable (monuments, archaeological sites, etc.) and underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities). Microbial colonization, biofilm formation and damaging metabolite production eventually result in critical decay. This Special Issue aims at mirroring the broad thematic variety and important advances in biodeterioration research, featuring a series of both original and review articles. These not only spotlight the efforts in anti-microbial strategies, but also the implementation of microbial-based technologies for heritage conservation and restoration.
Air- and dustborne fungi in repositories of the National Archive of the Republic of Cuba
Sofia Borrego, Isbel Vivar and Alian Molina
2022 | 10.15698/mic2022.05.776 | Research Articles
This study has as objectives to determine the concentration and diversity of the air- and dustborne mycobiota in seven National Archive of the Republic of Cuba repositories, and to assess the potential risk of biodeterioration that iso-lated taxa may have. In the indoor and outdoor environmental microbiological samplings a SAS biocollector was used and the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio was determined for each repository. The settled dust was collected during six months. Sørensen’s coefficient of similarity (QS) was calculated to compare the isolated taxa among the three studied niches (indoor air, dust, outdoor air). The biodegradation potential of the isolated taxa was determined by semi-quantitative tests. The concentrations in the air of repositories with natural cross-ventilation ranged from 225.2-750.3 CFU m-3, while in the Map library with air-conditioning (…)
Airborne bacteria in show caves from Southern Spain
Irene Dominguez-Moñino, Valme Jurado, Miguel Angel Rogerio-Candelera, Bernardo Hermosin and Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
2021 | 10.15698/mic2021.10.762 | Research Reports
This study analyzes the factors conditioning the diversity of airborne bacteria recorded in three Andalusian show caves, subjected to different managements.
Dry biocleaning of artwork: an innovative methodology for Cultural Heritage recovery?
Giancarlo Ranalli, Pilar Bosch-Roig, Simone Crudele, Laura Rampazzi, Cristina Corti and Elisabetta Zanardini
2021 | 10.15698/mic2021.05.748 | Research Articles
This work proposes an innovative methodology based on applied biotechnology for the recovery of altered stonework: the “dry biocleaning”, which envisages the use of dehydrated microbial cells without the use of free water or gel-based matrices.
Murals meet microbes: at the crossroads of microbiology and cultural heritage
Maria A. Bauer, Katharina Kainz, Christoph Ruckenstuhl, Frank Madeo and Didac Carmona-Gutierrez
2021 | 10.15698/mic2021.12.765 | Editorial
This article comments on the duality of microorganisms in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, which encompasses the negative impact of damaging microorganisms and recent advances in using specific microorganisms and microbial-based technologies for cultural heritage preservation.
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