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Sanjurjo-Sánchez J, Alves C, Freire-Lista DM. Biomineral deposits and coatings on stone monuments as biodeterioration fingerprints. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168846. [PMID: 38036142 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Biominerals deposition processes, also called biomineralisation, are intimately related to biodeterioration on stone surfaces. They include complex processes not always completely well understood. The study of biominerals implies the identification of organisms, their molecular mechanisms, and organism/rock/atmosphere interactions. Sampling restrictions of monument stones difficult the biominerals study and the in situ demonstrating of biodeterioration processes. Multidisciplinary works are required to understand the whole process. Thus, studies in heritage buildings have taken advantage of previous knowledge acquired thanks to laboratory experiments, investigations carried out on rock outcrops and within caves from some years ago. With the extrapolation of such knowledge to heritage buildings and the advances in laboratory techniques, there has been a huge increase of knowledge regarding biomineralisation and biodeterioration processes in stone monuments during the last 20 years. These advances have opened new debates about the implications on conservation interventions, and the organism's role in stone conservation and decay. This is a review of the existing studies of biominerals formation, biodeterioration on laboratory experiments, rocks, caves, and their application to building stones of monuments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Alves
- LandS/Lab2PT-Landscapes, Heritage and Territory Laboratory (FCT-UIDB/04509/2020) and Earth Sciences Department/School of Sciences, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - David M Freire-Lista
- Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Escola de Ciências da Vida e do Ambiente, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centro de Geociências, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
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Cattò C, Mu A, Moreau JW, Wang N, Cappitelli F, Strugnell R. Biofilm colonization of stone materials from an Australian outdoor sculpture: Importance of geometry and exposure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117948. [PMID: 37080094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The safeguarding of Australian outdoor stone heritage is currently limited by a lack of information concerning mechanisms responsible for the degradation of the built heritage. In this study, the bacterial community colonizing the stone surface of an outdoor sculpture located at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Melbourne was analysed, providing an overview of the patterns of microbial composition associated with stone in an anthropogenic context. Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing together with confocal laser microscope investigations highlighted the bacterial community was composed of both phototrophic and chemotrophic microorganisms characteristic of stone and soil, and typical of arid, salty and urban environments. Cardinal exposure, position and surface geometry were the most important factors in determining the structure of the microbial community. The North-West exposed areas on the top of the sculpture with high light exposure gave back the highest number of sequences and were dominated by Cyanobacteria. The South and West facing in middle and lower parts of the sculpture received significantly lower levels of radiation and were dominated by Actinobacteria. Proteobacteria were observed as widespread on the sculpture. This pioneer research provided an in-depth investigation of the microbial community structure on a deteriorated artistic stone in the Australian continent and provides information for the identification of deterioration-associated microorganisms and/or bacteria beneficial for stone preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andre Mu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; School of Geographical, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Nancy Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - Richard Strugnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Villa F, Wu YL, Zerboni A, Cappitelli F. In Living Color: Pigment-Based Microbial Ecology At the Mineral-Air Interface. Bioscience 2022; 72:1156-1175. [PMID: 36451971 PMCID: PMC9699719 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pigment-based color is one of the most important phenotypic traits of biofilms at the mineral-air interface (subaerial biofilms, SABs), because it reflects the physiology of the microbial community. Because color is the hallmark of all SABs, we argue that pigment-based color could convey the mechanisms that drive microbial adaptation and coexistence across different terrestrial environments and link phenotypic traits to community fitness and ecological dynamics. Within this framework, we present the most relevant microbial pigments at the mineral-air interface and discuss some of the evolutionary landscapes that necessitate pigments as adaptive strategies for resource allocation and survivability. We report several pigment features that reflect SAB communities' structure and function, as well as pigment ecology in the context of microbial life-history strategies and coexistence theory. Finally, we conclude the study of pigment-based ecology by presenting its potential application and some of the key challenges in the research.
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Self-potent anti-microbial and anti-fouling action of silver nanoparticles derived from lichen-associated bacteria. APPLIED NANOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13204-022-02501-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Black on White: Microbial Growth Darkens the External Marble of Florence Cathedral. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11136163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Weathering processes seriously affect the durability of outdoor marble monuments. In urban environments, a very common deterioration phenomenon is the dark discoloration or blackening of marble. This paper describes a multidisciplinary study on the state of conservation of white marbles of the Florence Cathedral and the microbial community involved in their deterioration. The study is focused on the widespread dark discoloration of marble analyzed in two differently exposed sites of the Cathedral. It aims to provide information useful for future interventions to control the microbial growth. By chemical and petrographic analysis, in situ and ex situ microscopy, and cultivation and identification of microorganisms, it was found that (i) the darkening is mainly due to the growth of black fungi and dark cyanobacteria and (ii) the state of conservation of marble and the growth pattern of microorganisms seems to be linked to the microclimatic conditions, in particular to solar radiation exposure. This is the first report on the lithobiontic community inhabiting the Florence Cathedral marbles, with a more detailed investigation of the culturable mycobiota.
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Gambino M, Sanmartín P, Longoni M, Villa F, Mitchell R, Cappitelli F. Surface colour: An overlooked aspect in the study of cyanobacterial biofilm formation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 659:342-353. [PMID: 30599353 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria can grow as biofilms, communities that colonize surfaces and that play a fundamental role in the ecology of many diverse habitats and in the conversion of industrial production to green platforms. Although biofilm growth is known to be significantly affected by several characteristics, the effect of colour surface is an overlooked aspect that has not yet been investigated. In this study, we describe the effect of colour hues (white, red, blue and black) on the growth of cyanobacterial biofilms on air-exposed substrates. We measured growth, architecture, pigment production and levels of ATP and reactive oxygen species in cyanobacterial biofilms formed on different coloured substrates. The study findings demonstrate, for the first time, that the colour of a surface affects biofilm formation at the air-solid interface (with more biomass accumulating on white and red substrates than on blue and black substrates) and also alters the biofilm architecture. In addition, the roles of chromatic adaptation, phototrophic cells and reactive oxygen species as intermediates between colour sensing and biofilm response are discussed. Our results support the importance of colour as a new factor that favours surface colonization by cyanobacteria and its contribution to biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Gambino
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Patricia Sanmartín
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Martina Longoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ralph Mitchell
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 58 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Gulotta D, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Toniolo L. Biofilm colonization of metamorphic lithotypes of a renaissance cathedral exposed to urban atmosphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 639:1480-1490. [PMID: 29929311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stone architectural heritage exposed outdoor represents a challenging habitat for biological growths; nevertheless, biocolonization on heritage structure is ubiquitous and represents a major mechanism of alteration. However, the identification of specific microorganisms with known reactivity towards the stone substrate does not necessarily imply that a biodeterioration process is in progress and, in specific conditions, bioprotection effects have been highlighted as a result of colonization. The main objective of the present research is to evaluate the biofilm formation on different lithotypes exposed to similar environmental polluted conditions, and to investigate whether the presence of subaerial biofilms can be associated to an increased magnitude of deterioration of the colonized surfaces with respect to the not colonized ones. In particular, the research examines the extensive biological colonization of the stone surfaces of the façade of the Cathedral of Monza (Italy). Four metamorphic stones widely used in the façade and showing rather different compositional, mineralogical and microstructural features were studied. The state of conservation of the stones was characterized under the mineralogical and compositional point of view by X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transformed infrared analysis. The microstructure of colonized substrates and of reference not colonized ones was studied by means of optical and electron microscopy, to comparatively evaluate the damage extent and weathering patterns in both conservative conditions. The structure and the architecture of biofilms growing on different lithic surfaces were investigated by CLSM in both fluorescence and reflection modes. Captured images were analyzed for 3D reconstructions of biofilm samples. The biovolumes were also calculated to estimate the total biomass. The results indicate that the four lithotypes showed different colonization extents. However, even in presence of extensive biological growth, chemical-physical deterioration mechanisms caused by environmental exposure were largely responsible for deterioration. A relationship between compositional and surface morphological features and biocolonization was also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gulotta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lucia Toniolo
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
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Cattò C, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Recent progress in bio-inspired biofilm-resistant polymeric surfaces. Crit Rev Microbiol 2018; 44:633-652. [DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2018.1489369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Majumdar D, Biswas JK, Mondal M, Babu MSS, Das S, Metre RK, SreeKumar SS, Bankura K, Mishra D. Cd(II) Pseudohalide Complexes with N, N′-Bis(3-ethoxysalicylidenimino) 1,3-Diaminopropane: Crystal Structures, Hirshfeld Surface, Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Properties. ChemistrySelect 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201702970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dhrubajyoti Majumdar
- Department of Chemistry; Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya; Tamluk-721636, West Bengal India
| | - Jayanta Kumar Biswas
- Department of Ecological Studies & International Centre for Ecological Engineering; University of Kalyani; Kalyani 741235, West Bengal India
| | - Monojit Mondal
- Department of Ecological Studies & International Centre for Ecological Engineering; University of Kalyani; Kalyani 741235, West Bengal India
| | | | - Sourav Das
- Department of Chemistry; Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management; Near Khokhara Circle, Maninagar East Ahmedabad-380026 Gujarat India
| | - Ramesh K. Metre
- Department of Chemistry; Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur; Rajasthan 342037 India
| | - Sreejith S. SreeKumar
- Department of Applied Chemistry; Cochin University of Science and Technology; Kochi 682022, Kerala India
| | - Kalipada Bankura
- Department of Chemistry; Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya; Tamluk-721636, West Bengal India
| | - Dipankar Mishra
- Department of Chemistry; Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya; Tamluk-721636, West Bengal India
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Villa F, Pitts B, Lauchnor E, Cappitelli F, Stewart PS. Development of a Laboratory Model of a Phototroph-Heterotroph Mixed-Species Biofilm at the Stone/Air Interface. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1251. [PMID: 26635736 PMCID: PMC4646968 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent scientific investigations have shed light on the ecological importance and physiological complexity of subaerial biofilms (SABs) inhabiting lithic surfaces. In the field of sustainable cultural heritage (CH) preservation, mechanistic approaches aimed at investigation of the spatiotemporal patterns of interactions between the biofilm, the stone, and the atmosphere are of outstanding importance. However, these interactions have proven difficult to explore with field experiments due to the inaccessibility of samples, the complexity of the ecosystem under investigation and the temporal resolution of the experiments. To overcome these limitations, we aimed at developing a unifying methodology to reproduce a fast-growing, phototroph-heterotroph mixed species biofilm at the stone/air interface. Our experiments underscore the ability of the dual-species SAB model to capture functional traits characteristic of biofilms inhabiting lithic substrate such as: (i) microcolonies of aggregated bacteria; (ii) network like structure following surface topography; (iii) cooperation between phototrophs and heterotrophs and cross feeding processes; (iv) ability to change the chemical parameters that characterize the microhabitats; (v) survival under desiccation and (vi) biocide tolerance. With its advantages in control, replication, range of different experimental scenarios and matches with the real ecosystem, the developed model system is a powerful tool to advance our mechanistic understanding of the stone-biofilm-atmosphere interplay in different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA ; Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy
| | - Betsey Pitts
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
| | - Ellen Lauchnor
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy
| | - Philip S Stewart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
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Villa F, Vasanthakumar A, Mitchell R, Cappitelli F. RNA-based molecular survey of biodiversity of limestone tombstone microbiota in response to atmospheric sulphur pollution. Lett Appl Microbiol 2014; 60:92-102. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti; la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milano Italy
| | - A. Vasanthakumar
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA USA
| | - R. Mitchell
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA USA
| | - F. Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti; la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milano Italy
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Sanmartín P, Villa F, Polo A, Silva B, Prieto B, Cappitelli F. Rapid evaluation of three biocide treatments against the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. PCC 9104 by color changes. ANN MICROBIOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-014-0882-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Cappitelli F, Villa F, Polo A. Culture-independent methods to study subaerial biofilm growing on biodeteriorated surfaces of stone cultural heritage and frescoes. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1147:341-366. [PMID: 24664845 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Actinobacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, and fungi form subaerial biofilm (SAB) that can lead to material deterioration on artistic stone and frescoes. In studying SAB on cultural heritage surfaces, a general approach is to combine microscopy observations and molecular analyses. Sampling of biofilm is performed using specific adhesive tape and sampling of SAB and the substrate with sterile scalpels and chisels. Biofilm observations are carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Specific taxa and EPS in biofilm can be readily visualized by fluorochrome staining and subsequent observation using fluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy. The observation of cross sections containing both SAB and the substrate shows if biofilm has developed not only on the surface but also underneath. Following nucleic acid extraction, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is used to identify bacterial taxa, while 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis is used to study eukaryotic groups. In this chapter, we illustrate the protocols related to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,
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Keshari N, Adhikary SP. Characterization of cyanobacteria isolated from biofilms on stone monuments at Santiniketan, India. BIOFOULING 2013; 29:525-536. [PMID: 23679119 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2013.794224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial biofilms occurring on the exterior of three stone monuments at Santiniketan, India were analyzed. Species of Scytonema and Tolypothrix were the major components of these biofilms. Identification was obtained by morphometric procedures and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Biofilms cultured for prolonged periods revealed the presence of several other cyanobacteria belonging to 14 different genera. Cyanobacteria on stone in the tropical environment of India formed a distinct cluster that was quite different from that of cyanobacteria reported for a similar substratum in temperate regions. Absorption spectra of the organisms from Santiniketan showed a high quantity of scytonemin, mycosporine-like amino acids, and carotenoids. All of the organisms survived in a desiccated state and rapidly revived after wetting. The organisms were heterocystous and nitrogenase activity was reactivated within 24 h of wetting by which time heterocysts in their filaments had also appeared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Keshari
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, India.
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Polo A, Gulotta D, Santo N, Di Benedetto C, Fascio U, Toniolo L, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Importance of subaerial biofilms and airborne microflora in the deterioration of stonework: a molecular study. BIOFOULING 2012; 28:1093-1106. [PMID: 23025579 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.729580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The study characterized the sessile microbial communities on mortar and stone in Milan University's Richini's Courtyard and investigated the relationship between airborne and surface-associated microbial communities. Active colonization was found in three locations: green and black patinas were present on mortar and black spots on stone. Confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and culture-independent molecular methods revealed that the biofilm causing deterioration was dominated by green algae and black fungi. The mortar used for restoration contained acrylic and siloxane resins that could be used by microorganisms as carbon and energy sources thereby causing proliferation of the biofilm. Epifluorescence microscopy and culture-based methods highlighted a variety of airborne microflora. Bacterial and fungal counts were quantitatively similar to those reported in other investigations of urban areas, the exception being fungi during summer (1-2 orders of magnitude higher). For the first time in the cultural heritage field, culture-independent molecular methods were used to resolve the structure of airborne communities near discoloured surfaces, and to investigate the relationship between such communities and surface-associated biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Polo
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
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