Search results for "biodeterioration"

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…

Solunto archaeological park in Sicily: life under mosaic tesserae

2018

Biodeterioration is a complex process induced by the growing and metabolic activity of a wide range of macro and microorganisms, becoming a revelling problem also for the mosaic tesserae of “Casa di Leda” in the Greco - Roman site of Solunto in Sicily. In this case-study, a thick biofilm inducing a deep alteration of mortar and consequently the mosaic tesserae detachment has been highlighted during the restoration plan. The biofilm microbial consortium has been investigated by an integrate approach based on Microscopy analysis (O.M., C.L.S.M.), in vitro culture (Nutrien and Saboraud media) and molecular biology investigation (DNA target sequence amplification, sequencing, sequence analysis)…

Multiple approaches to identify bacteria into archaeological waterlogged wood

2011

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…

Multiple approaches to identify bacteria in archaeological waterlogged wood

2013

This study was carried out in collaboration with Soprintendenza del Mare (SM) that started, since 2004, to plan and realize underwater archaeological parks, such as in the Sicilian islands of Pantelleria (Gadir), Levanzo (Cala Minnola), Ustica (Falconiera), Panarea (Basiluzzo) and Filicudi (Capo Graziano). In situ conservation, as well as virtual exhibitions of the same topics, can contribute to ensure the protection and best fruition of underwater cultural heritage. The focus of this study was the identification of bacterial colonies in waterlogged wood samples from the rostrum of a excellent workmanship, that is very likely one of the wrecks attributed to Sextus Pompey fleet (36 BC) and d…

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…