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Nicolosi G, Gonzalez-Pimentel JL, Piano E, Isaia M, Miller AZ. First Insights into the Bacterial Diversity of Mount Etna Volcanic Caves. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1632-1645. [PMID: 36750476 PMCID: PMC10497698 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02181-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While microbial communities in limestone caves across the world are relatively understood, knowledge of the microbial composition in lava tubes is lagging behind. These caves are found in volcanic regions worldwide and are typically lined with multicolored microbial mats on their walls and ceilings. The Mount Etna (Sicily, S-Italy) represents one of the most active volcanos in the world. Due to its outstanding biodiversity and geological features, it was declared Natural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO in 2013. Despite the presence of more than 200 basaltic lava tubes, the microbial diversity of these hypogean systems has never been investigated so far. Here, we investigated bacterial communities in four lava tubes of Mount Etna volcano. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was carried out for the morphological characterization and detection of microbial features. We documented an abundant presence of microbial cells with different morphotypes including rod-shaped, filamentous, and coccoidal cells with surface appendages, resembling actinobacteria reported in other lava tubes across the world. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the colored microbial mats collected were mostly composed of bacteria belonging to the phyla Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Cyanobacteria. At the genus level, the analysis revealed a dominance of the genus Crossiella, which is actively involved in biomineralization processes, followed by Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Chujaibacter, and Sphingomonas. The presence of these taxa is associated with the carbon, nitrogen, and ammonia cycles, and some are possibly related to the anthropic disturbance of these caves. This study provides the first insight into the microbial diversity of the Etna volcano lava tubes, and expands on previous research on microbiology of volcanic caves across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Centro Speleologico Etneo, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ana Z Miller
- HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales Y Agrobiologia de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Seville, Spain.
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2
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Cahoon AB, VanGundy RD. Alveolates (dinoflagellates, ciliates and apicomplexans) and Rhizarians are the most common microbial eukaryotes in temperate Appalachian karst caves. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:538-548. [PMID: 35388620 PMCID: PMC9542216 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to survey the eukaryotic microbiome of two karst caves in the Valley and Ridge physiographic region of the Appalachian Mountains. Caves are known to harbour eukaryotic microbes but their very low densities and small cell size make them difficult to collect and identify. Microeukaryotes were surveyed using two methodologies, filtering water and submerging glass microscope slides mounted in periphytometers in cave pools. The periphyton sampling yielded 13.5 times more unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) than filtered water. The most abundant protist supergroup was Alveolata with large proportions of the ASVs belonging to dinoflagellate, ciliate and apicomplexan clades. The next most abundant were Rhizarians followed by Stramenopiles (diatoms and chrysophytes) and Ameobozoans. Very few of the ASVs, 1.5%, matched curated protist sequences with greater than 99% identity and only 2.5% could be identified from surface plankton samples collected in the same region. The overall composition of the eukaryotic microbiome appears to be a combination of bacterial grazers and parasitic species that could possibly survive underground as well as cells, cysts and spores probably transported from the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Bruce Cahoon
- Department of Natural SciencesThe University of Virginia's College at WiseWiseVA24293USA
| | - Robert D. VanGundy
- Department of Natural SciencesThe University of Virginia's College at WiseWiseVA24293USA
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3
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Jurado V, Del Rosal Y, Jimenez de Cisneros C, Liñan C, Martin-Pozas T, Gonzalez-Pimentel JL, Hermosin B, Saiz-Jimenez C. Microbial communities in carbonate precipitates from drip waters in Nerja Cave, Spain. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13399. [PMID: 35529484 PMCID: PMC9074860 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on cave microorganisms has mainly focused on the microbial communities thriving on speleothems, rocks and sediments; however, drip water bacteria and calcite precipitation has received less attention. In this study, microbial communities of carbonate precipitates from drip waters in Nerja, a show cave close to the sea in southeastern Spain, were investigated. We observed a pronounced difference in the bacterial composition of the precipitates, depending on the galleries and halls. The most abundant phylum in the precipitates of the halls close to the cave entrance was Proteobacteria, due to the low depth of this sector, the direct influence of a garden on the top soil and the infiltration of waters into the cave, as well as the abundance of members of the order Hyphomicrobiales, dispersing from plant roots, and other Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, common soil inhabitants. The influence of marine aerosols explained the presence of Marinobacter, Idiomarina, Thalassobaculum, Altererythrobacter and other bacteria due to the short distance from the cave to the sea. Nineteen out of forty six genera identified in the cave have been reported to precipitate carbonate and likely have a role in mineral deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valme Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia (IRNAS-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | | | | | - Cristina Liñan
- Departamento de Ecologia y Geologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | | | | | - Bernardo Hermosin
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia (IRNAS-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
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Baković N, Matoničkin Kepčija R, Siemensma FJ. Transitional and small aquatic cave habitats diversification based on protist assemblages in the Veternica cave (Medvednica Mt., Croatia). SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.42.78037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protists in caves are scarcely researched. Most cave studies address the diversity of protists, but very little is known about their habitats and spatio-temporal dynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of protists in the Veternica cave in the Medvednica mountain in Croatia on hygropetric and sinter and clay pools during six months. During this study, 47 protists taxa were distinguished belonging to the groups of heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates, heliozoans, stramenopiles and testate and naked amoebae. The highest taxon richness was found at the sinter pool site richest in bats guano (36 taxa). Most diverse were testate amoebae and ciliates. The number of taxa and their abundance differed significantly between the sampling sites. The prospected habitats supported different protist assemblages, proved by ordination analysis. The most distinctive habitat was the hygropetric. Habitat heterogeneity could be attributed to the presence of inorganic and organic sediments at the sites and habitat microhydrology (lotic or lentic system). Kendall’s concordance coefficient showed a good synchronicity between the habitats in the Veternica cave, based on taxon richness and abundance of protists indicating similar seasonal trends. Seasonality in the studied habitats is attributed to the hydro-meteorological conditions in the Veternica cave drainage area. This study is one of the few studies of spatio-temporal diversity and abundance of protists in caves. Despite the similar appearance of small transitional and aquatic habitats in caves, an example of this study showed specific habitat diversification.
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The role of Acanthamoeba spp. in biofilm communities: a systematic review. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2717-2729. [PMID: 34292376 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07240-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba spp. have always caused disease in immunosuppressed patients, but since 1986, they have become a worldwide public health issue by causing infection in healthy contact lens wearers. Amoebae of the Acanthamoeba genus are broadly distributed in nature, living either freely or as parasites, and are frequently associated with biofilms throughout the environment. These biofilms provide the parasite with protection against external aggression, thus favoring its increased pathogeny. This review aims to assess observational studies on the association between Acanthamoeba spp. and biofilms, opening potential lines of research on this severe ocular infection. A systematic literature search was conducted in May 2020 in the following databases: PubMed Central®/Medline, LILACS, The Cochrane Library, and EMBASE®. The studies were selected following the inclusion and exclusion criteria specifically defined for this review. Electronic research recovered 353 publications in the literature. However, none of the studies met the inclusion criterion of biofilm-producing Acanthamoeba spp., inferring that the parasite does not produce biofilms. Nonetheless, 78 studies were classified as potentially included regarding any association of Acanthamoeba spp. and biofilms. These studies were allocated across six different locations (hospital, aquatic, ophthalmic and dental environments, biofilms produced by bacteria, and other places). Acanthamoeba species use biofilms produced by other microorganisms for their benefit, in addition to them providing protection to and facilitating the dissemination of pathogens residing in them.
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Gonzalez-Pimentel JL, Martin-Pozas T, Jurado V, Miller AZ, Caldeira AT, Fernandez-Lorenzo O, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C. Prokaryotic communities from a lava tube cave in La Palma Island (Spain) are involved in the biogeochemical cycle of major elements. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11386. [PMID: 34026356 PMCID: PMC8121065 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lava caves differ from karstic caves in their genesis and mineral composition. Subsurface microbiology of lava tube caves in Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, is largely unknown. We have focused the investigation in a representative lava tube cave, Fuente de la Canaria Cave, in La Palma Island, Spain, which presents different types of speleothems and colored microbial mats. Four samples collected in this cave were studied using DNA next-generation sequencing and field emission scanning electron microscopy for bacterial identification, functional profiling, and morphological characterization. The data showed an almost exclusive dominance of Bacteria over Archaea. The distribution in phyla revealed a majority abundance of Proteobacteria (37-89%), followed by Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Candidatus Rokubacteria. These four phyla comprised a total relative abundance of 72-96%. The main ecological functions in the microbial communities were chemoheterotrophy, methanotrophy, sulfur and nitrogen metabolisms, and CO2 fixation; although other ecological functions were outlined. Genome annotations of the especially representative taxon Ga0077536 (about 71% of abundance in moonmilk) predicted the presence of genes involved in CO2 fixation, formaldehyde consumption, sulfur and nitrogen metabolisms, and microbially-induced carbonate precipitation. The detection of several putative lineages associated with C, N, S, Fe and Mn indicates that Fuente de la Canaria Cave basalts are colonized by metabolically diverse prokaryotic communities involved in the biogeochemical cycling of major elements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Valme Jurado
- Environmental Microbiology, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Environmental Microbiology, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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On the Biodiversity and Biodeteriogenic Activity of Microbial Communities Present in the Hypogenic Environment of the Escoural Cave, Alentejo, Portugal. COATINGS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings11020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypogenic caves represent unique environments for the development of specific microbial communities that need to be studied. Caves with rock art pose an additional challenge due to the fragility of the paintings and engravings and to microbial colonization which may induce chemical, mechanical and aesthetic alterations. Therefore, it is essential to understand the communities that thrive in these environments and to monitor the activity and effects on the host rock in order to better preserve and safeguard these ancestral artforms. This study aims at investigating the Palaeolithic representations found in the Escoural Cave (Alentejo, Portugal) and their decay features. These prehistoric artworks, dating back up to 50,000 B.P., are altered due to environmental conditions and microbial activity inside the cave. Microbial cultivation methods combined with culture-independent techniques, biomarkers’ viability assays and host rock analysis allowed us to better understand the microbial biodiversity and biodeteriogenic activity within the hypogenic environment of this important cave site. This study is part of a long-term monitoring program envisaged to understand the effect of this biocolonisation and to understand the population dynamics that thrive in this hypogean environment.
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8
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Colored Microbial Coatings in Show Caves from the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador): First Microbiological Approach. COATINGS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings10111134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) have a unique ecosystem on Earth due to their outstanding biodiversity and geological features. This also extends to their subterranean heritage, such as volcanic caves, with plenty of secondary mineral deposits, including coralloid-type speleothems and moonmilk deposits. In this study, the bacterial communities associated with speleothems from two lava tubes of Santa Cruz Island were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was carried out for the morphological characterization and detection of microbial features associated with moonmilk and coralloid speleothems from Bellavista and Royal Palm Caves. Microbial cells, especially filamentous bacteria in close association with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), were abundant in both types of speleothems. Furthermore, reticulated filaments and Actinobacteria-like cells were observed by FESEM. The analysis of 16S rDNA revealed the presence of different bacterial phylotypes, many of them associated with the carbon, nitrogen, iron and sulfur cycles, and some others with pollutants. This study gives insights into subsurface microbial diversity of the Galapagos Islands and further shows the interest of the conservation of these subterranean geoheritage sites used as show caves.
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Biological Risk for Hypogea: Shared Data from Etruscan Tombs in Italy and Ancient Tombs of the Baekje Dynasty in Republic of Korea. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10176104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biological growth represents one of the main threats for the conservation of subterranean cultural heritage. Knowledge of the conditions which favour the various taxonomic groups is important in delineating their control methods. Combining our experience regarding hypogea in Italy and the Republic of Korea, we aim to perform a critical review and comparison of the Biodeterioration Patterns (BPs) found, the materials used, and the conservative treatments applied. For this purpose, we focused on Etruscan tombs (Italy, 7th to 3th century BC) and the ancient tombs of the Baekje Dynasty (Republic of Korea, 6th to 7th centuries AD), most of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, collecting original and bibliographic data as well as official documents. Results highlight the rich biodiversity of the bacterial and fungal species. Phototrophs were observed only in niches with sufficient light and the development of roots was also detected. Changes in humidity and temperature, the nature of the soil, nutrient accumulation, and vegetation above the hypogea along with human activities explain the different BPs. The effects of biocide treatments are also discussed, such as the emergence of dangerous fungal species. The shared data also enhance the role of overlaying tumuli and vegetation as well as protective barriers to reduce biological risk.
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10
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Cailhol D, Ciadamidaro L, Dupuy D, Allegra S, Girardot F, Pfendler S. Fungal and bacterial outbreak in the wine vinification area in the Saint-Marcel show cave. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:138756. [PMID: 32442874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the Saint-Marcel cave (France), wood barrels and thousands of bottles containing red wine were stored for vinification. After storage began, a fungal and bacterial outbreak occurred, and the area was invaded by numerous types of mold colonizing the cave ceilings and all objects related to human activities (the stairwell and oenological materials). In this study, using the metabarcoding approach, we have studied the microbial outbreak and have linked the identified microorganisms to oenological activity. Both 16S and ITS primers were used to sequence the samples collected from the cave. The results showed that the dominant microorganisms proliferating in the cave were related to wine vinification. For instance, Zasmidium cellare, a strain known for living in dark and ethanol-rich environments, was the dominant fungus on the cave stairwell. Furthermore, Guehomyces pullulans, a cold-adapted yeast used for juice clarification, was recorded as the major species on the blackened limestone ceilings. These findings reveal a complex community structure in the studied cave based on the assembly of bacteria and fungi. Finally, our results demonstrate that oenological activities could seriously affect cave preservation, changing the natural microbial communities populating cave environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Ciadamidaro
- INRA, AgroParisTech, UMR1402 ECOSYS, Ecotoxicology Division, F-78026 Versailles Cedex, France
| | | | - Séverine Allegra
- University of Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, CNRS, EVS-ISTHME UMR 5600, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Françoise Girardot
- University of Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, CNRS, EVS-ISTHME UMR 5600, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Stéphane Pfendler
- University of Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, CNRS, EVS-ISTHME UMR 5600, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France.
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11
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Fungal Community Analysis and Biodeterioration of Waterlogged Wooden Lacquerware from the Nanhai No. 1 Shipwreck. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10113797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To avoid the lacquerware of the Nanhai No. 1 shipwreck from being corroded by microorganisms and to improve the knowledge on microbial ecology of the wood lacquers, we conducted a series of tests on the two water samples storing the lacquerware and colonies on the surface of the lacquerware. The high-throughput sequencing detected dominant fungal communities. After that, the fungal strains were isolated and then identified by amplification of ITS- 18S rRNA. Then the activity of ligninolytic and cellulolytic enzymes was detected on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates with 0.04% (v/v) guaiacol and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar plates. Finally, we tested the biocide susceptibility of these fungi. Penicillium chrysogenum (NK-NH3) and Fusarium solani (NK- NH1) were the dominant fungi in the sample collected in April 2016 and June 2017. What is more, both showed activity of ligninolytic and cellulolytic enzymes. Four biocidal products (Preventol® D7, P91, BIT 20N, and Euxyl® K100) inhibited the growth of the fungal species in vitro effectively. In further research, the microbial community and environmental parameters in the museum should be monitored to assess the changes in the community and to detect potential microbial outbreaks.
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12
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Davis MC, Messina MA, Nicolosi G, Petralia S, Baker MD, Mayne CKS, Dinon CM, Moss CJ, Onac BP, Garey JR. Surface runoff alters cave microbial community structure and function. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232742. [PMID: 32374788 PMCID: PMC7202643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Caves formed by sulfuric acid dissolution have been identified worldwide. These caves can host diverse microbial communities that are responsible for speleogenesis and speleothem formation. It is not well understood how microbial communities change in response to surface water entering caves. Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic tools were used to determine the impact of surface water on the microbial community diversity and function within a spring pool found deep in the Monte Conca Cave system in Sicily, Italy. Sulfur oxidizers comprised more than 90% of the microbial community during the dry season and were replaced by potential anthropogenic contaminants such as Escherichia and Lysinibacillus species after heavy rains. One sampling date appeared to show a transition between the wet and dry seasons when potential anthropogenic contaminants (67.3%), sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (13.6%), and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (6.5%) were all present within the spring pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison C. Davis
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | | | - Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Centro Speleologico Etneo, Catania, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Salvatore Petralia
- Centro Speleologico Etneo, Catania, Italy
- Applied Chemical Works, Paternò (Ct), Italy
| | - Melvin D. Baker
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Christiana K. S. Mayne
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Chelsea M. Dinon
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Christina J. Moss
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Bogdan P. Onac
- Karst Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - James R. Garey
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
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Bercea S, Năstase-Bucur R, Moldovan OT, Kenesz M, Constantin S. Yearly microbial cycle of human exposed surfaces in show caves. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.31.34490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human impact upon the subterranean microbiomes is not only a peril to the cave environment but might also affect future visitors. We focused on the changes that humans induced on the surfaces they came in direct or indirect contact with inside two intensely visited Romanian show caves, by means of commercially available microbial rapid test kits and molecular identification.
Overall culturable bacteria abundance in the caves maintained high levels year-round while Enterobacteriaceae, coliform bacteria and Escherichiacoli levels peaked during the touristic season, reaching levels that could pose a threat to the health of the visitors. Culturable fungi abundance usually peaked in the spring, remained at a high level in the summer and started to slowly decrease towards the winter months. Differences were observed between the direct and indirect exposed surfaces, as the later had lower overall levels of bacteria and fungi, with increased Enterobacteriaceae loads. Most of the taxa identified are known biodeteriorants of subterranean surfaces and were previously associated with human altered caves. A Dothideomycete sp. previously unknown to the cave environments was detected.
This was the first study to analyse the dynamics of the microbial communities of delicate subterranean surfaces in show caves through the use of commercially available test kits. We revealed that exposed surfaces in show caves, in direct or indirect contact with tourists, are host to high concentrations of cultivable microbes. The touristic activity was shown to influence the abundance and dynamics of the microbial communities inhabiting surfaces of show caves.
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14
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Pfendler S, Karimi B, Alaoui-Sosse L, Bousta F, Alaoui-Sossé B, Abdel-Daim MM, Aleya L. Assessment of fungi proliferation and diversity in cultural heritage: Reactions to UV-C treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:905-913. [PMID: 30096678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Fungi are present in natural and non-touristic caves due to the presence of organic matter provided mainly by insects or animals such as bats. In show caves, however, tourist infrastructure and the visitors themselves are an important source of organic matter. In addition, photosynthetic biofilms provide a high amount of carbon and nitrogen sources for fungi. This study was conducted to identify the fungal communities present in caves along with the potential use of UV-C treatment against their proliferation. Thus, fungal communities proliferating in biofilms in six French and Swiss show caves were analyzed using high throughput sequencing. The results show 385 species recorded, some of them previously described in cases of fungal outbreak. This preliminary study also aimed to test the use of UV-C light as an environmentally friendly method to treat fungal proliferation. Six fungal strains, from three different sources (Lascaux cave, La Glacière cave, a church in Vicherey, France), were cultivated in an agar dish. Spores, mycelia and the entire colony were irradiated using several UV-C intensities. Results showed that four of the six fungi spores and mycelium died following a low-intensity UV-C treatment (2 kJ m-2, 160 s), though Ochroconis lascauxensis and Penicillium bilaiae spores showed higher resistance. Finally, it was demonstrated that the fungal colony could resist the UV-C light due to a shadow effect. The structure of the fungal colony was affected from the periphery to its inner part. However, after four 30 kJ m-2 treatments (39 min irradiation) all strains there definitively eradicated. Further studies will be necessary to examine the potential of UV-C light under cave conditions as a preventive and curative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Pfendler
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement - UMR 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16, route de Gray, 25 000 Besançon, France
| | - Battle Karimi
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Laurence Alaoui-Sosse
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement - UMR 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16, route de Gray, 25 000 Besançon, France
| | - Faisl Bousta
- Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques - USR 3224, Champs-Sur-Marne, France
| | - Badr Alaoui-Sossé
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement - UMR 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16, route de Gray, 25 000 Besançon, France
| | - Mohamed M Abdel-Daim
- Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken 232-0024, Japan
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement - UMR 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16, route de Gray, 25 000 Besançon, France.
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Dhami NK, Mukherjee A, Watkin ELJ. Microbial Diversity and Mineralogical-Mechanical Properties of Calcitic Cave Speleothems in Natural and in Vitro Biomineralization Conditions. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:40. [PMID: 29472898 PMCID: PMC5810276 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural mineral formations are a window into important processes leading to carbon storage and mineralized carbonate structures formed through abiotic and biotic processes. In the current study, we made an attempt to undertake a comprehensive approach to characterize the mineralogical, mechanical, and microbial properties of different kinds of speleothems from karstic caves; with an aim to understand the bio-geo-chemical processes in speleothem structures and their impact on nanomechanical properties. We also investigated the biomineralization abilities of speleothem surface associated microbial communities in vitro. Mineralogical profiling using techniques such as X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD) and Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) demonstrated that calcite was the dominant mineral in the majority of speleothems with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDS) indicating a few variations in the elemental components. Differing proportions of polymorphs of calcium carbonate such as aragonite and vaterite were also recorded. Significant variations in trace metal content were recorded through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed differences in morphological features of the crystals which varied from triangular prismatic shapes to etched spiky forms. Microbial imprints and associations were seen in a few sections. Analysis of the associated microbial diversity showed significant differences between various speleothems at Phylum level; although Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were found to be the predominant groups. Genus level microbial associations showed a relationship with the geochemistry, mineralogical composition, and metal content of the speleothems. The assessment of nanomechanical properties measured by Nanoindentation revealed that the speleothems with a dominance of calcite were stronger than the speleothems with mixed calcium carbonate polymorphs and silica content. The in vitro metabolic activity of the microbial communities associated with the surfaces of the speleothems resulted in calcium carbonate crystal precipitation. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated these populations, in contrast to the populations seen in natural systems. The precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals in vitro indicated that microbial metabolic activity may also play an important role in the synthesis and dissociation of biominerals in the natural environment. Our study provides novel evidence of the close relationship between mineralogy, microbial ecology, geochemistry, and nanomechanical properties of natural formations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep K. Dhami
- Biologically Activated Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Abhijit Mukherjee
- Biologically Activated Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Elizabeth L. J. Watkin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute-Biosciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Wickham G. An investigation into the relative resistances of common bacterial pathogens to quaternary ammonium cation disinfectants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biohorizons/hzx008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Wickham
- Department of Biological Science, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ, United Kingdom
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Dhami NK, Alsubhi WR, Watkin E, Mukherjee A. Bacterial Community Dynamics and Biocement Formation during Stimulation and Augmentation: Implications for Soil Consolidation. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1267. [PMID: 28744265 PMCID: PMC5504299 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbially-induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) is a naturally occurring process wherein durable carbonates are formed as a result of microbial metabolic activities. In recent years, MICP technology has been widely harnessed for applications in civil engineering wherein synthesis of calcium carbonate crystals occurs at ambient temperature paving way for low energy biocement. MICP using pure urease (UA) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) producing bacteria has been promising in laboratory conditions. In the current study we enriched ureolytic and carbonic anhydrase communities in calcareous soil under biostimulation and bioaugmentation conditions and investigated the effect of microbial dynamics on carbonate precipitation, calcium carbonate polymorph selection and consolidation of biological sand column under nutrient limited and rich conditions. All treatments for stimulation and augmentation led to significant changes in the composition of indigenous bacterial population. Biostimulation as well as augmentation through the UA route was found to be faster and more effective compared to the CA route in terms of extracellular enzyme production and carbonate precipitation. Synergistic role of augmented cultures along with indigenous communities was recorded via both the routes of UA and CA as more effective calcification was seen in case of augmentation compared to stimulation. The survival of supplemented isolates in presence of indigenous bacterial communities was confirmed through sequencing of total diversity and it was seen that both UA and CA isolate had the potential to survive along with native communities under high nutrient conditions. Nutrient conditions played significant role in determining calcium carbonate polymorph fate as calcitic crystals dominated under high carbon supplementation. Finally, the consolidation of sand columns via stimulation and augmentation was successfully achieved through both UA and CA route under high nutrient conditions but higher consolidation in short time period was noticed in UA route. The study reports that based upon the organic carbon content in native soils, stimulation can be favored at sites with high organic carbon content while augmentation with repeated injections of nutrients can be applied on poor nutrient soils via different enrichment routes of microbial metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navdeep K Dhami
- Biologically Activated Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin UniversityPerth, WA, Australia
| | - Walaa R Alsubhi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute-Biosciences, Curtin UniversityPerth, WA, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Watkin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute-Biosciences, Curtin UniversityPerth, WA, Australia
| | - Abhijit Mukherjee
- Biologically Activated Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin UniversityPerth, WA, Australia
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Adetutu EM, Thorpe K, Bourne S, Cao X, Shahsavari E, Kirby G, Ball AS. Phylogenetic diversity of fungal communities in areas accessible and not accessible to tourists in Naracoorte Caves. Mycologia 2017; 103:959-68. [DOI: 10.3852/10-256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Krystal Thorpe
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Australia
| | - Steven Bourne
- Department for Environment and Heritage, Box 134, Naracoorte, SA 5271 Australia
| | - Xiangsheng Cao
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Australia, and College of Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China 100124
| | | | | | - Andrew S. Ball
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Australia
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Sugiyama J, Kiyuna T, Nishijima M, An KD, Nagatsuka Y, Tazato N, Handa Y, Hata-Tomita J, Sato Y, Kigawa R, Sano C. Polyphasic insights into the microbiomes of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus and Kitora Tumulus. J GEN APPL MICROBIOL 2017; 63:63-113. [DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yoshinori Sato
- Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
| | - Rika Kigawa
- Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
| | - Chie Sano
- Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
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Kieraite-Aleksandrova I, Aleksandrovas V, Kuisiene N. Down into the Earth: microbial diversity of the deepest cave of the world. Biologia (Bratisl) 2015. [DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2015-0127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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21
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Tazato N, Handa Y, Nishijima M, Kigawa R, Sano C, Sugiyama J. Novel environmental species isolated from the plaster wall surface of mural paintings in the Takamatsuzuka tumulus: Bordetella muralis sp. nov., Bordetella tumulicola sp. nov. and Bordetella tumbae sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:4830-4838. [PMID: 26443672 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ten strains of Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile coccobacilli were isolated from the plaster wall surface of 1300-year-old mural paintings inside the stone chamber of the Takamatsuzuka tumulus in Asuka village (Asuka-mura), Nara Prefecture, Japan. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of the isolates, they belonged to the proteobacterial genus Bordetella (class Betaproteobacteria) and could be separated into three groups representing novel lineages within the genus Bordetella. Three isolates were selected, one from each group, and identified carefully using a polyphasic approach. The isolates were characterized by the presence of Q-8 as their major ubiquinone system and C16 : 0 (30.0-41.8 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 10.1-27.0 %) and C17 : 0 cyclo (10.8-23.8 %) as the predominant fatty acids. The major hydroxy fatty acids were C12 : 0 2-OH and C14 : 0 2-OH. The DNA G+C content was 59.6-60.0 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization tests confirmed that the isolates represented three separate novel species, for which the names Bordetella muralis sp. nov. (type strain T6220-3-2bT = JCM 30931T = NCIMB 15006T), Bordetella tumulicola sp. nov. (type strain T6517-1-4bT = JCM 30935T = NCIMB 15007T) and Bordetella tumbae sp. nov. (type strain T6713-1-3bT = JCM 30934T = NCIMB 15008T) are proposed. These results support previous evidence that members of the genus Bordetella exist in the environment and may be ubiquitous in soil and/or water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomi Tazato
- Technical Department, TechnoSuruga Laboratory Co. Ltd, 330 Nagasaki, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-0065, Japan
| | - Yutaka Handa
- Technical Department, TechnoSuruga Laboratory Co. Ltd, 330 Nagasaki, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-0065, Japan
| | - Miyuki Nishijima
- Technical Department, TechnoSuruga Laboratory Co. Ltd, 330 Nagasaki, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-0065, Japan
| | - Rika Kigawa
- Independent Administrative Institution, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, 13-43 Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8713, Japan
| | - Chie Sano
- Independent Administrative Institution, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, 13-43 Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8713, Japan
| | - Junta Sugiyama
- TechnoSuruga Laboratory Co., Ltd, Chiba Branch Office, No. 4 Sanko Bldg., 3-1532-13 Hasama-cho, Funabashi-shi, Chiba 274-0822, Japan
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Zeybek Z, Binay AR. Growth ability of Gram negative bacteria in free-living amoebae. Exp Parasitol 2014; 145 Suppl:S121-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2013] [Revised: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Microbiological and environmental issues in show caves. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 28:2453-64. [PMID: 22806150 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-012-1070-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/21/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cultural tourism expanded in the last half of the twentieth century, and the interest of visitors has come to include caves containing archaeological remains. Some show caves attracted mass tourism, and economical interests prevailed over conservation, which led to a deterioration of the subterranean environment and the rock art. The presence and the role of microorganisms in caves is a topic that is often ignored in cave management. Knowledge of the colonisation patterns, the dispersion mechanisms, and the effect on human health and, when present, over rock art paintings of these microorganisms is of the utmost importance. In this review the most recent advances in the study of microorganisms in caves are presented, together with the environmental implications of the findings.
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Martin-Sanchez PM, Nováková A, Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C. Two new species of the genus Ochroconis, O. lascauxensis and O. anomala isolated from black stains in Lascaux Cave, France. Fungal Biol 2012; 116:574-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2012.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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25
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Martin-Sanchez PM, Nováková A, Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C. Use of biocides for the control of fungal outbreaks in subterranean environments: the case of the Lascaux Cave in France. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:3762-3770. [PMID: 22380699 DOI: 10.1021/es2040625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Lascaux Cave in France suffered an outbreak of the fungus Fusarium solani in 2001. Biocides were applied for three years to control this outbreak. Four months after the initial biocide application, a new outbreak appeared in the form of black stains that progressively invaded the cave. The black stains on the ceiling and passage banks were so evident by 2007 that they became one of the cave's major problems. Therefore, biocides were used again in 2008. The present study investigated the fungal communities associated with the black stains and the effectiveness of the biocides applied, by using cloning, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and culture-dependent methods. A novel species, Ochroconis lascauxensis, was the most abundant fungus in samples collected between 2007 and 2008, and the biocides applied were not effective in eliminating this fungus; on the contrary, they appeared to increase the fungal diversity. The fungal communities represented in the samples collected in 2010 were quite different from those collected in 2008 and 2009: the major OTUs corresponded to black yeasts belonging to the Herpotrichiellaceae family. The origin and evolution of these microorganisms are probably linked to the intensive biocide treatments and to the anthropogenic changes introduced by cave management.
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26
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Calcite biomineralization by bacterial isolates from the recently discovered pristine karstic herrenberg cave. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 78:1157-67. [PMID: 22179248 DOI: 10.1128/aem.06568-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvial sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Serratia, and Stenotrophomonas, grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus, grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.
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Pasić L, Kovce B, Sket B, Herzog-Velikonja B. Diversity of microbial communities colonizing the walls of a Karstic cave in Slovenia. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2010; 71:50-60. [PMID: 19817862 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2009.00789.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Karstic cave systems in Slovenia receive substantial amounts of organic input from adjacent forest and freshwater systems. These caves host microbial communities that consist of distinct small colonies differing in colour and shape. Visible to the naked eye, the colonies cover cave walls and are strewn with light-reflecting water droplets. In this study, the diversity of prokaryotes constituting these unusual microbial communities in Pajsarjeva jama cave was examined. A molecular survey based on small subunit rRNA diversity showed a high diversity within the Bacteria, while members of Archaea were not recovered. A total of eight bacterial phyla were detected. The application of various species richness estimators confirmed the diverse nature of the microbial community sample. Members of Gammaproteobacteria were most abundant in the clone libraries constructed and were followed in abundance by members of Actinobacteria and Nitrospira. In addition, members of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria as well as Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes were identified in clone libraries. The high number of clones most closely related to environmental 16S rRNA gene clones showed the broad spectrum of unknown and yet to be cultivated microorganisms inhabiting these cave systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lejla Pasić
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Bastian F, Jurado V, Nováková A, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C. The microbiology of Lascaux Cave. Microbiology (Reading) 2010; 156:644-652. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.036160-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lascaux Cave (Montignac, France) contains paintings from the Upper Paleolithic period. Shortly after its discovery in 1940, the cave was seriously disturbed by major destructive interventions. In 1963, the cave was closed due to algal growth on the walls. In 2001, the ceiling, walls and sediments were colonized by the fungus Fusarium solani. Later, black stains, probably of fungal origin, appeared on the walls. Biocide treatments, including quaternary ammonium derivatives, were extensively applied for a few years, and have been in use again since January 2008. The microbial communities in Lascaux Cave were shown to be composed of human-pathogenic bacteria and entomopathogenic fungi, the former as a result of the biocide selection. The data show that fungi play an important role in the cave, and arthropods contribute to the dispersion of conidia. A careful study on the fungal ecology is needed in order to complete the cave food web and to control the black stains threatening the Paleolithic paintings.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Bastian
- UMR INRA-Université de Bourgogne, Microbiologie du Sol et de l'Environment, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - V. Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, CSIC, Apartado 1052, 41080 Sevilla, Spain
| | - A. Nováková
- Institute of Soil Biology, Na Sádkách 7, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - C. Alabouvette
- UMR INRA-Université de Bourgogne, Microbiologie du Sol et de l'Environment, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - C. Saiz-Jimenez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, CSIC, Apartado 1052, 41080 Sevilla, Spain
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Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Jurado V, Saiz-Jimenez C. Impact of biocide treatments on the bacterial communities of the Lascaux Cave. Naturwissenschaften 2009; 96:863-8. [PMID: 19404600 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-009-0540-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2008] [Revised: 02/13/2009] [Accepted: 03/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Lascaux Cave contains a remarkable set of paintings from the Upper Palaeolithic. Shortly after discovery in 1940, the cave was modified for public viewing and, in 2001, was invaded by a Fusarium solani species complex. Benzalkonium chloride was used from 2001 to 2004 to eliminate the fungal outbreak. In this study, we carried out a sampling in most of the cave halls and galleries. Sequence analysis and isolation methods detected that the most abundant genera of bacteria were Ralstonia and Pseudomonas. We suggest that, as a result of years of benzalkonium chloride treatments, the indigenous microbial community has been replaced by microbial populations selected by biocide application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Bastian
- UMR Microbiologie du Sol et de l'Environnement, INRA-Université de Bourgogne, BP 86510, 21065, Dijon Cedex, France
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