Fungi and Bacteria in Indoor Cultural Heritage Environments: Microbial-related Risks for Artworks and Human Health

Cultural heritage constitutive materials can provide excellent substrates for microbial colonization, highly influenced by thermo-hygrometric parameters. In cultural heritage-related environments, a detrimental microbial load may be present both on manufacts surface and in the aerosol. In this study, bacterial and fungal colonisation has been investigated in three Sicilian confined environments (archive, cave and hypogea), each with peculiar structures and different thermo-hygrometric parameters. Particular attention has been paid to microorganisms able to induce artifacts biodeterioration and to release biological particles in the aerosol (spores, cellular debrides, toxins and allergens) p…

Biological and microclimatic monitoring for conservation of cultural heritage: a case study at the De Rossi room of the Palatina library in Parma

Biological particles in heritage-related indoor environments (museums, libraries, archives) represent a hazard to artifacts (biodeteriogenic action), operators and visitors’ health. The aim of the study was to evaluate environmental biological contamination and microclimate conditions in different periods of the year in De Rossi room of the historical Palatina Library in Parma. Microclimatic measurements were recorded continuously for a period ranging from 11 to 17 days in: January–February, May and September 2017. Monitoring of bacterial and fungal contamination was performed for air by active and passive sampling and by nitrocellulose membranes on shelves and manuscripts. Microorganisms w…

Investigation and control of a Norovirus outbreak of probable waterborne transmission through a municipal groundwater system

During March 2011 an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in Santo Stefano di Quisquina, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. Within two weeks 156 cases were identified among the 4,965 people living in the municipality. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to characterize the outbreak and target the control measures. A case was defined as a person developing diarrhea or vomiting during February 27–March 13, 2011. Stool specimens were collected from 12 cases. Norovirus (NoV) genotype GII.4 variant New Orleans 2009 was identified in stool samples from 11 of 12 cases tested (91.7%). Epidemiological investigations suggested a possible association with municipal drinking water consumption. Water …

Surveillance of a municipal drinking-water supply after a Norovirus outbreak in Italy

PLANT PRODUCTS TO CONTROL BIODETERIORATION OF CULTURAL ASSETS

Fungi and bacteria are known as major biodeteriogens of cultural heritage, able to colonize, altering anddegrading a wide range of materials, such as metals, paints, paper, paperboard, rocks, photos, textiles, leather, plastics, etc. (1, 2). The use of traditional chemical biocides, to control microbial growth on cultural assets, has become a serious threat to public health and environment. The aim of this study has been to develop biocompatible antimicrobial compounds testing on specific taxa, that were isolated from biodeteriorated artifacts (books, papers, stones, woods, canvases) or environmental aerosols (museums, archives, libraries) and characterized by microscopy, in vitro culture a…

Essential Oils as Natural Biocides in Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Essential oils (EOs) have been known for a long time, and they are used in several fields such as medicine and aromatherapy, as well as in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In the last decade, EOs have also been applied to contrast the biodeterioration of cultural heritage, representing a powerful resource in green conservation strategies. In this study, an integrated approach based on microscopic observation, in vitro culture, and molecular investigation was preliminarily employed to identify biological systems colonizing wooden artworks. In order to contrast the biodeterioration processes induced by fungal colonization (Aspergillus flavus) or insect infestation (Anobium punctatum), …

Cold-active molecules for a sustainable preservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts

In the last decades biotechnology research provides sustainable alternatives to traditional procedures for preventive preservation of cultural assets. Recently, bioactive molecules (BMs) isolated from marine invertebrate organisms have been isolated and tested for bioremoval of protein layers (BMP) or to controlling microbial colonization (BMA), acting at temperature lower than 30°C. The Protease or Antimicrobial activity was tested on ad hoc assembled specimens and on different historic-artistic manufacts. In bio-removing protocol BMP molecules were applied as gelled solutions, in order to guarantees a selective action, respectful of constitutive materials and manufact integrity. Peculiari…

Sporadic detection in children during a 25-year surveillance in Palermo, Italy, clarifies the zoonotic potential of G6 rotavirus strains

Biotechnology a Source of Knowledge in Agreement with Green Strategies for the Conservation of Cultural Assets

In this study, conservative strategies are applied in order to limit any irreversible damage and to characterize and quantify microbial colonization that may induce the deterioration of constitutive heritage materials; subsequently, suitable antimicrobial interventions are performed based on the use of biotechnology. This paper presents a summary of the basic and applied biotechnology research developed in the Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage (LaBBCH, University of Palermo, Italy). It shows that biotechnology has an evidently important role in the preservation and restoration of cultural assets, also taking into consideration that “Prevention is better than cure…

Prevalence of Toscana sand fly virus antibodies in neurological patients and control subjects in Sicily

Toscana sandfly fever virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus transmitted to humans by sandfly vectors. It has been associated with human cases of meningitis and meningo-encephalitis mainly occurring during the warm season. We performed a retrospective serological study to evaluate TOSV circulation in Palermo, Sicily, and to compare TOSV seroprevalence in patients with neurological symptoms and in a control group of patients without neurological symptoms. When sera from 155 patients with and without neurological symptoms were evaluated, the rate of overall TOSV IgG reactivity was 17.4%. Patients with neurological symptoms showed a higher percentage of TOSV IgG positivity than control patie…

Innovative and Integrated Strategies: Case Studies

In this chapter, case studies related to biodeterioration, bioaerosol, biocide and biocleaning are reported. The aim is highlighting the role of biology and biotechnology tools for the preventive conservation of organic and inorganic artifacts, understanding how traditional as well as innovative methods can help the conservationists to develop integrated strategies considering works of art/environment/ humans as a dynamic system. Particularly, based on the experience acquired during the researches of Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage (LaBBCH), the authors suggest several approaches to reveal and identify biological systems able to induce biodeterioration of cultu…

Biocide

Biodeterioration represents a revealing problem for the conservation of cultural heritage. It can be identified as a complex interaction within the ecosystem of a microbial community and its substrate and involves physical and chemical alterations resulting from biological and metabolic activity. Designing a diagnostic approach for evaluating the extent of the damage, identifying the biological community, and opting for an efficient methodology aimed at eliminating deteriogens is equally complicated. The correct approach would require understanding the nature of the biodeterioration and implementing methodologies respectful of human health which, however, avoid the indiscriminate killing of…

Recombinant norovirus GII.g/GII.12 gastroenteritis in children.

Recombinant GII.g/GII.12 norovirus (NoV) strains emerged in 2008 in Australia and subsequently have been associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. In the winter season 2009-2010 GII.12 strains caused 16% of the NoV outbreaks in the United States. During 2009-2010 we also identified GII.g/GII.12 strains during surveillance of sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in Italian children. Severity scores were calculated for the GII.g/GII.12 NoV infections using the Vesikari scale and in two out of three paediatric cases they exceeded the median value calculated for concomitant GII.4 infections. Upon sequence analysis, the Italian strains were found to be recombinant viruses and displayed d…

Surveillance of human astrovirus circulation in Italy 2002-2005: emergence of lineage 2c strains.

AbstractBy screening faecal samples collected over four consecutive years (2002-2005) from hospitalized children with diarrhoea in Palermo, Italy, astroviruses (HAstVs) were detected in 3.95% of the patients. The predominant type circulating was HAstV-1 but, in 2002, only HAstV-2 and -4 were identified. Interestingly, the HAstVs-2 detected appeared to be consistently different in 5′ end of their open reading frame 2 from the previously described subtypes. These novel type 2 strains were included in a new 2c lineage based on the phylogenetic analysis and the presence of nine peculiar substitutions.

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR CONSERVATION OF VILLA ZITO PAINTINGS COLLECTION (PALERMO – SICILY)

In this study we describe the conservative integrated approach performed on 40 paintings, dating from different period (XVII- XX century), belonging to “Fondazione Sicilia “ and exposed in Villa Zito paint gallery in Palermo (Mazzocca 2015). Through a multidisciplinary approach both constitutive materials and state of conservation have been determined. Particularly, pigments and executive techniques were identified by non-invasive diagnostic investigation (XRF analysis, UV fluorescence acquisition, and IR Reflectography) as well as previous restorations events. The study has included the revealing of microbial colonization by using non-invasive sampling methods (Nylon membrane fragment) and…

Molecular characterization of genotype G6 human rotavirus strains detected in Italy from 1986 to 2009.

Group A human rotavirus (HRV) strains with a bovine-like (G6) major outer capsid protein VP7 were first detected in Palermo, Italy, in the late 1980s, and subsequently worldwide. During a 25-year rotavirus surveillance period, additional HRV G6 strains, associated with either a P[9] or P[14] VP4 genotype, have been detected sporadically, but repeatedly, in Palermo. Whether these G6 HRVs were transmitted to humans directly from an animal reservoir or could have circulated at low prevalence in susceptible individuals is uncertain. Upon sequence analyses of the VP7, VP4, VP6, NSP4 and NSP5 gene segments, all the Italian HRV strains displayed a conserved genotype constellation, G6-P[9]/[14]-I2-…