Fungi: Their role in deterioration of cultural heritage
TL;DR: Education and close collaboration of mycologists and restorers are needed to develop object specific methods for the conservation and treatment of contaminated objects.
About: This article is published in Fungal Biology Reviews.The article was published on 2010-02-01. It has received 426 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Cultural heritage.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: A review of a variety of well-known biodeterioration phenomena observed on different materials, such as stone and building materials, objects exhibited in museums and libraries, as well as human remains and burial-related materials and some prominent examples of successful and unsuccessful conservation treatments are given.
Abstract: Microorganisms (bacteria, archaea and fungi), in addition to lichens and insect pests, cause problems in the conservation of cultural heritage because of their biodeteriorative potential. This holds true for all types of historic artefacts, and even for art made of modern materials, in public buildings, museums and private art collections. The variety of biodeterioration phenomena observed on materials of cultural heritage is determined by several factors, such as the chemical composition and nature of the material itself, the climate and exposure of the object, in addition to the manner and frequency of surface cleaning and housekeeping in museums. This study offers a review of a variety of well-known biodeterioration phenomena observed on different materials, such as stone and building materials, objects exhibited in museums and libraries, as well as human remains and burial-related materials. The decontamination of infected artefacts, exhibition rooms and depots incurs high expenditure for museums. Nevertheless, the question has to be raised: whether the process of biodeterioration of cultural heritage can or should be stopped under all circumstances, or whether we have to accept it as a natural and an implicit consecution of its creation. This study also highlights critically the pros and cons of biocide treatments and gives some prominent examples of successful and unsuccessful conservation treatments. Furthermore, an outlook on the future research needs and developments in this highly interesting field is given.
340 citations
Cites background from "Fungi: Their role in deterioration ..."
...Damage can occur because of mechanical stress, production of staining compounds or enzymatic action (Blyskal 2009; López-Miras et al. 2013; Pinzari et al. 2010; Santos et al. 2009; Sterflinger 2010)....
[...]
...and (3) phenomenological monitoring (Barton and Wellheiser 1985; Dicus 2000; Pinzari 2011; Sterflinger 2010)....
[...]
...The most important factors for prevention of biogenic damage on historic objects are: (1) climate control, (2) frequent cleaning and (3) phenomenological monitoring (Barton and Wellheiser 1985; Dicus 2000; Pinzari 2011; Sterflinger 2010)....
[...]
...Decontamination of infected artefacts, exhibition rooms and depots results in high expenditure for museums (Allsopp et al. 2004; Cappitelli et al. 2009; Koestler et al. 2003; Mesquita et al. 2009; Nittérus 2000a; Pangallo et al. 2009; Sterflinger 2010)....
[...]
TL;DR: The importance of oxalate in geomycology, biodeterioration, environmental biotechnology and bioremediation is discussed in this article, where salient information from environmental and applied research is drawn together to emphasize the importance of Oxalate.
269 citations
Cites background from "Fungi: Their role in deterioration ..."
...…metals, and lignocellulosic materials, such as wood and paper (de la Torre et al., 1991, 1993; Gadd, 1999; Gadd et al., 2005; Schilling and Jellison, 2007; Lian et al., 2008a,b; Sterflinger, 2000, 2010; Cutler and Viles, 2010; McMaster, 2012; Sterflinger and Pinzari, 2012) (Figs 4, 9 and 10)....
[...]
TL;DR: In order to prevent fungal contamination or to treat already contaminated objects an integrated approach including climate control, material-specific cleaning and application of carefully selected biocides is necessary.
Abstract: Summary
Hyphomycetous fungi – so called ‘mould’– are the most important agents of biodeterioration in museums, museums' storage rooms, in libraries, collections and restoration studios. Fungi are able to live at low water activities, they are perfectly adapted to indoor environments and thrive in microclimatic niches caused by condensation, lack of ventilation or water retention by hygroscopic materials. Fungi spoil valuable pieces of art aesthetically, mechanically, chemically and by degradation of organic components. Historical material made of paper and oil paintings with high amounts of organic binders are especially susceptible to fungal deterioration. In order to prevent fungal contamination or to treat already contaminated objects an integrated approach including climate control, material-specific cleaning and application of carefully selected biocides is necessary.
132 citations
Cites background from "Fungi: Their role in deterioration ..."
...Damage can occur because of mechanical stress, production of staining compounds or enzymatic action (Sterflinger, 2010; Pinzari et al., 2010a)....
[...]
...…Mould always was and still is threatening materials including historical and contemporary material of objects of art in libraries and in museums (Nittérus, 2000a; Koestler et al., 2003; Allsopp et al., 2004; Capitelli et al., 2009; Mesquita et al., 2009; Pangallo et al., 2009; Sterflinger, 2010)....
[...]
...(i) Mould always was and still is threatening materials including historical and contemporary material of objects of art in libraries and in museums (Nittérus, 2000a; Koestler et al., 2003; Allsopp et al., 2004; Capitelli et al., 2009; Mesquita et al., 2009; Pangallo et al., 2009; Sterflinger, 2010)....
[...]
TL;DR: Results show that the photo-catalytic activity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles prevents the fungal colonization of wood samples over long time when compared to untreated ones.
127 citations
01 Dec 2020
TL;DR: In this article, the role of microbes in the deterioration processes, the biochemical mechanisms involved and possible strategies for sustainable conservation of stone monuments and buildings are discussed, as well as how microbes contribute to the biodeterioration processes through their activities and biogeochemical cycles of elements.
Abstract: Geomicrobially induced deterioration of stone monuments and buildings contributes to a considerable loss of world cultural heritage, especially when exposed to a changing climate or environment. The active biodeterioration processes typically involve biochemical activities and cooperation among functional microorganisms in epilithic biofilms, which assimilate mineral nutrients and metabolize anthropogenic pollutants through biogeochemical cycles. Development of any effective mitigation strategies requires the comprehensive understanding of such processes. We focus on how microbes contribute to the biodeterioration processes through their activities and biogeochemical cycles of elements, discuss biochemical mechanisms involved and provide innovative strategies for sustainable conservation of stone monuments and buildings. Biodeterioration of stone monuments and buildings can lead to a loss of world cultural heritage. This Review discusses the role of microbes in the deterioration processes, the biochemical mechanisms involved and possible strategies for sustainable conservation of stone monuments and buildings.
118 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: This article seeks to emphasize the fundamental importance of fungi in several key areas including organic and inorganic transformations and element cycling, rock and mineral transformations, bioweathering, mycogenic mineral formation, fungal-clay interactions, metal-fungal interactions, and the significance of such processes in the environment and their relevance to areas of environmental biotechnology such as bioremediation.
994 citations
TL;DR: The complete set of primers was developed with an emphasis on discrimination between plant and fungal sequences and should be particularly useful for studies of fungi where samples also contain high levels of background plant DNA, such as verifying ectomycorrhizal morphotypes or characterizing phylosphere communities.
Abstract: The Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of fungal ribosomal DNA (rDNA) are highly variable sequences of great importance in distinguishing fungal species by PCR analysis. Previously published PCR primers available for amplifying these sequences from environmental samples provide varying degrees of success at discriminating against plant DNA while maintaining a broad range of compatibility. Typically, it has been necessary to use multiple primer sets to accommodate the range of fungi under study, potentially creating artificial distinctions for fungal sequences that amplify with more than one primer set. Numerous sequences for PCR primers were tested to develop PCR assays with a wide range of fungal compatibility and high discrimination from plant DNA. A nested set of 4 primers was developed that reflected these criteria and performed well amplifying ITS regions of fungal rDNA. Primers in the 5.8S sequence were also developed that would permit separate amplifications of ITS1 and ITS2. A range of basidiomycete fruiting bodies and ascomycete cultures were analyzed with the nested set of primers and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) fingerprinting to demonstrate the specificity of the assay. Single ectomycorrhizal root tips were similarly analyzed. These primers have also been successfully applied to Quantitative PCR (QPCR), Length Heterogeneity PCR (LH-PCR) and Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses of fungi. A set of wide-range plant-specific primers were developed at positions corresponding to one pair of the fungal primers. These were used to verify that the host plant DNA was not being amplified with the fungal primers. These plant primers have been successfully applied to PCR-RFLP analyses of forest plant tissues from above- and below-ground samples and work well at distinguishing a selection of plants to the species level. The complete set of primers was developed with an emphasis on discrimination between plant and fungal sequences and should be particularly useful for studies of fungi where samples also contain high levels of background plant DNA, such as verifying ectomycorrhizal morphotypes or characterizing phylosphere communities.
575 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of epi-and endolithic black meristematic fungi is discussed and the impact of fungi on weathering of monuments and building materials is described and new methods to study fungi-material interactions are presented.
Abstract: Although many studies on fungi and geological processes have been published in recent years, books and congress proceedings on geomicrobiology focus mainly on prokaryotes and algae. Therefore, it is the aim of this review to summarize data on the fungal impact on geological processes. These processes include the alteration and weathering of rock and minerals, the accumulation of metals, and the conversion of fossil organic carbon. Fossil records and fungi in subsurface environments are also discussed. This article especially emphasizes the role of epi- and endolithic black meristematic fungi, discussing their deteriorative potential on rock as well as their taxonomy and phylogeny. Moreover, the impact of fungi on weathering of monuments and building materials is described and new methods to study fungi-material interactions are presented. The data summarized here show that "geomycology" is a highly interesting discipline in view of basic geological research, as well as biotechnological application.
374 citations
TL;DR: A critical review of work on microbial biofilms on buildings of historic interest, including recent innovations resulting from molecular biology, is presented and microbial activities causing degradation are discussed.
Abstract: Cultural heritage monuments may be discolored and degraded by growth and activity of living organisms. Microorganisms form biofilms on surfaces of stone, with resulting aesthetic and structural damage. The organisms involved are bacteria (including actinomycetes and cyanobacteria), fungi, archaea, algae, and lichens. Interactions between these organisms and stone can enhance or retard the overall rate of degradation. Microorganisms within the stone structure (endoliths) also cause damage. They grow in cracks and pores and may bore into rocks. True endoliths, present within the rock, have been detected in calcareous and some siliceous stone monuments and are predominantly bacterial. The taxonomic groups differ from those found epilithically at the same sites. The nature of the stone substrate and the environmental conditions influence the extent of biofilm colonization and the biodeterioration processes. A critical review of work on microbial biofilms on buildings of historic interest, including recent innovations resulting from molecular biology, is presented and microbial activities causing degradation are discussed.
359 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: Section Headings: Foreword by R.E. Munn, Chapter 1: Microclimate, Air and Temperature.
Abstract: Section Headings: Foreword by R.E. Munn. Preface. Acknowledgements. Part I. Atmospheric Physics Applied to Microclimate Analysis and Conservation. Chapter 1. Microclimate, Air and Temperature. Chapter 2. Humidity. Chapter 3. Parameters For Describing Air Masses and Vertical Motions. Chapter 4. Radiation and Light. Chapter 5. Physics of Drop Formation and Micropore Condensation. Chapter 6. Atmospheric Water and Stone Weathering. Chapter 7. Atmospheric Stability and Pollutant Dispersion. Chapter 8. Dry Deposition of Airborne Particulate Matter: Mechanisms and Effects. Part II. Performing Microclimate Field Surveys. Chapter 9. Introduction to Field Measurements. Chapter 10. Measuring Temperature. Chapter 11. Measuring Humidity. Chapter 12. Measuring Wind and Indoor Air Motions. Chapter 13. Measuring Rainfall and Windborne Droplets. References. References index. Subject index.
310 citations