Nutrient cycling potential within microbial communities on culturally important stoneworks

Previous studies on microbes associated with deterioration of cultural heritage (CH) stoneworks have revealed a diverse microbiota adapted to stresses such as low nutrients, aridity and high salinity, temperatures and radiation. However, the function of these pioneer microbial communities is still unclear. This study examines bacterial and archaeal diversity in exfoliated and dark encrustation sandstone from Portchester Castle (UK) by 16S rRNA and functional gene analyses. Bacterial and archaeal communities from the exfoliated sites were distinctly different from the dark encrustation. Detected genera were linked to extreme environmental conditions, various potential functional roles and degradation abilities. From these data it was possible to reconstruct almost complete nitrogen and sulfur cycles, as well as autotrophic carbon fixation and mineral transformation processes. Analysis of RNA showed that many of the detected genera in these nutrient cycles were probably active in situ. Thus, CH stonework microbial communities are highly diverse and potentially self‐sustaining ecosystems capable of cycling carbon, nitrogen and sulphur as well as the stone biodeterioration processes that lead to alterations such as exfoliation and corrosion. These results highlight the importance of diversity and internal recycling capacity in the development of microbial communities in harsh and low energy systems

Biocleaning of Cultural Heritage stone surfaces and frescoes: which delivery system can be the most appropriate?

[EN] The use of the advanced biotechnology of microbiological systems for the biological cleaning of Cultural Heritage (CH) has been recently improved and optimized taking into account different factors. Biocleaning systems have been indeed applied to historic buildings, statue,s and frescoes. Such application has developed new techniques and optimised and refined the existing systems. These systems remove altered forms like sulfate and nitrate crusts and organic substances like animal glue in a more effective, less invasive way than the traditional cleaning techniques. This review focuses on several delivery systems (sepiolite, hydrobiogel-97, cotton wool, carbogel, mortar and alginate beads, agar, and arbocel) used for the biocleaning of Cultural Heritage, comparing their main properties and characteristics, making a critical evaluation on how easy they can be applied, and on their future potentiality as ready-to-use and risk-free formulates. Therefore, this review will help conservation scientists, conservator-restorers, and researchers in the field to choose the most appropriate delivery system for any specific applications.This Project has been partially supported by the project VALi+d APOSTD/2013/024 from the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain.Bosch Roig, MDP.; Lustrato, G.; Zanardini, E.; Ranalli, G. (2014). Biocleaning of Cultural Heritage stone surfaces and frescoes: which delivery system can be the most appropriate?. Annals of Microbiology. 65(3):1227-1241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-014-0938-4S12271241653Alfano G, Lustrato G, Belli C, Zanardini E, Cappitelli F, Mello E, Sorlini C, Ranalli G (2011) The bioremoval of nitrate and sulfate alterations on artistic stonework: The case-study of Matera Cathedral after six years from the treatment. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 65(7):1004–1011An L, Zhao TS, Zeng L (2013) Agar chemical hydrogel electrode binder for fuel-electrolyte-fed fuel cells. 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Advanced Biocleaning System for Historical Wall Paintings

AbstractThis chapter will focus on the potential role of safe microorganisms as biocleaning agents in the removal of altered or undesirable organic substances on historical wall paintings. Selected microbes can be adopted as biological cleaners to reduce and remove deterioration ageing phenomena, environmental pollutants and altered by-products of past intervention of restorations. The aim is to offer a comprehensive view on the role and potentiality of virtuous microorganisms pro- biocleaning of altered historical wall paintings. We also report four case studies in the CH restoration field, carried out in the last 25 years, with the innovative use of bacteria and different delivery systems, focusing the attention on the preliminary diagnosis and the monitoring of the whole process. The CH field represents a great challenge and Science and Art link together the work of conservator scientists and historians with researchers and scientists, sharing their diverse expertises and joining the knowledges to the preservation and the conservation of our artistic patrimony

The Role of Microorganisms in the Removal of Nitrates and Sulfates on Artistic Stoneworks

AbstractThis chapter will focus on the role of microorganisms in the removal of nitrates and sulfates on artistic stoneworks. The main groups of microbes and their metabolisms involved in bioremoval methods for the preservation and protection of cultural artifacts are reported. The aim is to offer a comprehensive view on the role and potentiality of virtuous microorganisms in the biocleaning and bioremoval of black crusts and salts altering CH stoneworks. We highlight the importance of the use of the selected microorganisms and the adoption of adequate carriers for the anaerobic metabolism of nitrate and sulfate reducers to be applied on the altered stone surfaces. The following characteristics of the delivery system are of great importance: the ability to guarantee water content for microbes, the absence of toxicity for the environment, no negative effects to the stone surfaces, easy to prepare, to apply, and to remove from different stone surfaces at the end of the treatment. We report an overview of the last 30 years on the biocleaning processes including diagnostic studies of the alterations, the assessment of associated risks, the effectiveness and efficacy of the proposed method, and the evaluation in terms of economic and environmental sustainability

Improved Methodology for Bioremoval of Black Crusts on Historical Stone Artworks by Use of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

An improved methodology to remove black crusts from stone by using Desulfovibrio vulgaris subsp. vulgaris ATCC 29579, a sulfate-reducing bacterium, is presented. The strain removed 98% of the sulfates of the crust in a 45-h treatment. Precipitation of black iron sulfide was avoided using filtration of a medium devoid of iron. Among three cell carriers, Carbogel proved to be superior to both sepiolite and Hydrobiogel-97, as it allowed an easy application of the bacteria, kept the system in a state where microbial activity was maintained, and allowed easy removal of the cells after the treatment