0000000000587229
AUTHOR
Laurence Alaoui-sosse
Comparison of biocides, allelopathic substances and UV-C as treatments for biofilm proliferation on heritage monuments
Abstract UV-C and biocide treatments are frequently used to treat historical monuments contaminated by autotrophic biofilms. In this study, the authors compare for the first time the efficacy of these treatments against microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and algae proliferating in the Vicherey church (Vicherey, Vosges Department, France). To identify the most environmentally friendly and also efficient method, an allelopathic treatment was also tested. Colorimetric and physiological measurements of treated biofilms were thus monitored for 6 months. Fungi growing on necrotic matter from treated biofilms were sampled and sequenced. With biocides, results showed incomplete eradication of bio…
UV-C as an Efficient Means to Combat Biofilm Formation in Cultural Heritage Monument. Biodiversity and Impact on Prehistoric Pigments?
Caves are considered oligotrophic habitats exhibiting constant temperature and relative humidity throughout the year. While darkness inhibits photosynthetic microorganism growth, introducing artificial lights to promote touristic activity can induce algae and cyanobacteria proliferation. Besides the aesthetic problem, microorganisms are responsible of physical and chemical degradation of limestone wall with possibly a degradation of prehistoric painting of cultural value. In our studies, we identified lampenflora with new-generation sequencing (NGS) in five French show caves and also on a 180, 000 years old contaminated bear bones (Ursus deningeroides). Afterward, we attempted to find an ec…
Biofilm biodiversity in French and Swiss show caves using the metabarcoding approach: First data.
International audience; In recent decades, show caves have begun to suffer from microorganism proliferation due to artificial lighting installations for touristic activity. In addition to the aesthetic problem, light encourages microorganisms that are responsible for physical and chemical degradation of limestone walls, speleothems and prehistoric paintings of cultural value. Microorganisms have previously been described by microscopy or culture-dependent methods, but data provided by new generation sequencing are rare. The authors identified, for the first time, microorganisms proliferating in one Swiss and in four French show caves using three different primers. The results showed that bo…
Assessment of fungi proliferation and diversity in cultural heritage: Reactions to UV-C treatment.
International audience; 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 speci…