Clara Urzì

TL;DR: Several filamentous and microcolonial fungi have been isolated from stone monuments and natural rock outcrops, mainly in the Mediterranean area and most strains are characterized by melanin production, and proved to be meristematic; some showed dimorphic yeast-like growth.

TL;DR: Fungal strains isolated from rocks and lichens collected in the Antarctic ice-free area of the Victoria Land, one of the coldest and driest habitats on earth, were found in two phylogenetically isolated positions within the subclass Dothideomycetidae, and are reported as new genera and species.

TL;DR: An investigation into the occurrence and biodiversity of Geodermatophilaceae on 78 samples of altered stone surfaces from 24 monuments and natural stones in the Mediterranean basin found that the total microbial counts ranged between 0 and 10 cfu g(-1) dry weight, suggesting that there is a wide genetic diversity at the microsite level.

TL;DR: In this paper, a study was carried out in order to correlate changes in colour of rock surfaces, with bioreceptivity of calcarenite stone used to built the Baroque town of Noto (Syracuse, Sicily) and the microflora associated with surface colouring defined as ‘orange and/or grey patinas’.

TL;DR: The results obtained after sampling in regions of black spots and discoloration using adhesive tape strips showed that the method is useful for monitoring microbial colonization as well as for the identification of biodeteriogens.