Characterizing microbial diversity and damage in mural paintings.

Area of Science:

• Art conservation science
• Microbiology
• Analytical chemistry

Background:

• Mural paintings are vital cultural heritage assets, with degradation impacting societal understanding and economic value.
• Biodeterioration by microbial communities poses a significant threat to the integrity of these invaluable artworks.
• Understanding microbial involvement is crucial for effective conservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel microanalytical approach for investigating microbial damage in mural paintings.
• To characterize and identify microbial diversity associated with biodeterioration.
• To evaluate the extent of damage caused by microbial activity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized culture-dependent and DNA-based methods (DGGE, pyrosequencing) for microbial identification.
• Employed Raman microspectrometry, infrared spectrometry, and VP-SEM/EDX for contamination and alteration product analysis.
• Correlated analytical data with microbial community characterization.

Main Results:

• Successfully characterized microbial diversity involved in mural painting biodeterioration.
• Identified specific alteration products resulting from microbial metabolic activity.
• Established a correlation between mural degradation status and the presence of active microorganisms.

Conclusions:

• The developed microanalytical approach effectively identifies microbial agents of biodeterioration.
• Metabolically active microorganisms are directly linked to the degradation of mural paintings.
• This research provides critical insights for the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage artworks.