Search results for " Biodeterioration"
showing 10 items of 19 documents
Fungi and Bacteria in Indoor Cultural Heritage Environments: Microbial-related Risks for Artworks and Human Health
2016
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…
Anthropomorphic wooden reliquaries an integrated approach to restoration
2015
Two wood anthropomorphic reliquaries, belonging to Lipsanoteca of Epiphany Church, Trapani (Italy), were restored following procedures based on an interdisciplinary approach. The historic-artistic contextualization, constitutive materials and executive techniques were defined. Degradation events were correlated to physical-chemical factors, with particular attention to biodeteriogens. Insect infestation was revealed, by optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of rosume and insect body remains, Anobium punctatum was identified. Microbial colonization was revealed and characterized by an integrated approach based on OM (Lugol’s staining), in vitro culture and molecular investigati…
Identification of microbial taxa involved in cultural heritage deterioration and able to produce health hazardous substances by molecular techniques.
2008
Fungi and bacterial, wide-spread in biosphere environments, are the main microorganisms related to the deterioration of cultural assets but, moreover, complex microbial communities may emit mixed aerosol into indoor air. In this study the microbial colonization is investigated from to point of view, conservation of cultural heritage and related potential illness to visitors or professionals. The sampling was performed by non-destructive procedures on works of art surfaces, and by the gelatin membrane filter method (Sartorius) for aerosol. The identification of microbial taxa was performed by molecular analyses based on PCR, sequencing, sequence comparison techniques and, particularly for fu…
New biocides based on imidazolinium-functionalised hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles
2022
Here, we report the development of a new biocide based on hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). The MSN was synthesized by condensation method in emulsion followed by grafting with two different silylated ionic liquid moieties, namely butyl imidazolinium bromide and imidazolinium propansulfonate betaine. Features of nanoparticles were characterized by Thermogravimetry, Infrared and ss-NMR Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The antibacterial properties were tested against a Gram-positive bacterial strain previously isolated from artefacts of interest in the field of Cultural Heritage. Interestingly, the hybrid material presents an antibacterial activity higher than i…
La flora briofitica dell’area archeologica di Selinunte (Sicilia sud-occidentale).
2018
The bryophyte flora settled on the ancient ruins and other habitats of the archaeological area of Selinunte has been studied. The study showed that the bryophyte flora consists of 51 specific and infraspecific taxa (44 mosses and 7 liverworts). The analysis points out that the bryophyte flora of Selinunte is the richest from the taxonomic point of view. moreover, it is characterized by a prevalence of mediterranean taxa and has a distinctly photophilous, thermophilous, xerophilous and calcicolous-neutrophilous connotation. Biodeteriogenic species potentially more dangerous for their spread, abundance and reproductive capacity are highlighted.
Characterization of microbial communities in pest colonized books by molecular biology tools
2011
This work presents the identification of bacteria and fungi colonies in insect infesting books, by cultural-independent methodologies based on molecular biology techniques. Microbial genomic DNA extraction,<em> in vitro</em> amplification of specific target sequences by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), sequencing and sequence analysis were performed. These procedures minimized the samples amount, optimized the diagnostic studies on bacteria and fungi colonization and allowed the identification of many species also in complex microbial consortia. The molecular techniques for sure accomplish and integrate the microbiological standard methods (<em>in vitro</em>&nbs…
Contributi alla interpretazione, conservazione e restauro dei manufatti storico-artistici dell’Orto Botanico di Palermo: il Paride di Nunzio Morello
2017
Contributions to the interpretation, conservation and restoration of the historical and artistic artifacts of the Botanical Garden of Palermo: the Paride by Nunzio Morello – Purely cognitive and conservative requirements of the historical-artistic heritage of the Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo, have led the authors to present one of the most representative monuments of such Garden that is of great artistic and cultural value in the City of Palermo: the Paride Pensante, a marble sculpture made in 1839 by the Palermo sculptor Nunzio Morello - a pupil of the most famous artist Valerio Villareale - donated to his homeland and placed in the men- tioned Botanical Garden, in the squ…
Plant essential oils in controlling fungal colonization on wooden substrate
2021
In order to control fungal colonization and the related deterioration process of cultural objects, several chemical compounds are actually utilised. These products generally are toxic, not biodegradable and persisting for long time in the environment, also acting on not-targeted biological systems. In this study, specifically to wooden cultural object, Origanum vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils are proposed as green biocides to contrast the development of Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger fungal species. The aim is replacing toxic products with natural molecules, proposing alternative methodologies supporting the using of non-toxic novel compou…
Cold-active molecules for a sustainable preservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts
2016
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…
Formulation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Antimicrobials for Stone Preventive Conservation
2020
The biotic deterioration of artifacts of archaeological and artistic interest mostly relies on the action of microorganisms capable of thriving under the most disparate environmental conditions. Thus, to attenuate biodeterioration phenomena, biocides can be used by the restorers to prevent or slow down the microbial growth. However, several factors such as biocide half-life, its wash-out because of environmental conditions, and its limited time of action make necessary its application repeatedly, leading to negative economic implications. Sound and successful treatments are represented by controlled release systems (CRSs) based on porous materials. Here, we report on the design and developm…