Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Francesco Gabriele, Alice Vetrano, Laura Bruno, Cinzia Casieri, Raimondo Germani, Lorenza Rugnini, Nicoletta Spreti
Summary: By developing innovative methodologies using alginate hydrogels with titanium dioxide and sodium dichloroisocyanurate, the problem of biodeterioration on stone monuments has been effectively addressed with promising results in inhibiting cyanobacterial photosynthesis without side effects on the substrates tested.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Review
Archaeology
Annalaura Casanova Municchia, Maria Rosaria Fidanza, Giulia Caneva
Summary: This study compares and evaluates the interference of biocides on stone materials, considering different types of biocides, stones, and modes of application. It provides a guidance standard for the methods used, both in situ and in-laboratory analysis.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Laura Bruno, Cinzia Casieri, Francesco Gabriele, Roberta Ranaldi, Lorenza Rugnini, Nicoletta Spreti
Summary: Stone monuments in outdoor environments are susceptible to biodeterioration caused by biofilm growth, resulting in aesthetic, physical, and chemical damages. Encapsulation of anti-microbial agents into inert matrices has gained interest due to its effectiveness in reducing biocide usage. This study applied biocidal hydrogels containing thyme essential oil or sodium dichloroisocyanurate on selected areas of the Depero's mosaic in Rome. The hydrogels were prepared in situ and easily applied on large vertical surfaces. The treatment successfully removed all microorganisms comprising the microbial patina.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fernando Bolivar-Galiano, Oana Adriana Cuzman, Clara Abad-Ruiz, Pedro Sanchez-Castillo
Summary: This work introduces a helpful tool for dealing with the biodiversity of monumental fountains and other wet lithotype surfaces, emphasizing the importance of phototrophic microorganisms in fountains and their impact on stone materials. The paper summarizes research on phototrophic biodiversity and provides simplified identification methods for professionals in the field of stone conservation.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viorica Maria Corbu, Irina Gheorghe, Ioana Cristina Marinas, Elisabeta Irina Geana, Maria Iasmina Moza, Ortansa Csutak, Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
Summary: This study demonstrates the efficiency of garlic extract against over 200 biodeteriogenic microbial strains isolated from cultural heritage objects and buildings, with a particular emphasis on fungal strains. The major compounds in garlic extract include thiosulfinate, flavonoids, and polyphenols, showing inhibitory effects on planktonic growth, biofilm formation, and microbial enzyme production. This eco-friendly solution has promising potential for the conservation of tangible cultural heritage, effectively combating biodeteriogenic microorganisms.
Article
Geography, Physical
Chiara Tonon, Davide Bernasconi, Luca Martire, Linda Pastero, Heather Viles, Sergio E. Favero-Longo
Summary: This study examined the impact of lichen colonization patterns on stone durability. Results showed a species-specific decrease in stone hardness, which was related to differences in hyphal penetration patterns and calcite precipitation. These findings suggest that decisions on lichen removal should consider species-specific behavior.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrea Macchia, Romina Strangis, Sara De Angelis, Marica Cersosimo, Antonella Docci, Michela Ricca, Bartolo Gabriele, Raffaella Mancuso, Mauro Francesco La Russa
Summary: Biodeterioration is a common degradation process in cultural heritage conservation, and chemical treatments can be harmful to the environment and operators. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an eco-friendly alternative that can be used to treat biologically deteriorated stone surfaces. This study tests five different DESs and the preliminary results show promising potential for their application in the field of cultural heritage.
Article
Archaeology
Sergio E. Favero-Longo, Marisa Laurenzi Tabasso, Francesco Brigadeci, Maria-Concetta Capua, Alessandra Morelli, Paolo Pastorello, Mohammad Sohrabi, Alireaza Askari Chaverdi, Pierfrancesco Callieri
Summary: Plant essential oils have biocidal efficacy against lichen, though species-specific resistance may be encountered. The formulation of application protocols is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of essential oil treatments, especially when targeting lichens in semi-arid areas and planning interventions during humid seasons.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paulina Nowicka-Krawczyk, Michal Komar, Beata Gutarowska
Summary: The gradual degradation of technical materials by green algae has significant economic and social implications, with green algae able to colonize and impact various terrestrial environments. Through cellular adaptations and life mechanisms, green algae are able to survive in harsh environments and accelerate the degradation of building materials.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mattea Romani, Thomas Warscheid, Lionel Nicole, Lionel Marcon, Patrick Di Martino, Marcelino T. Suzuki, Philippe Lebaron, Raphael Lami
Summary: All types of building materials are susceptible to microbial colonization, leading to biodeterioration. While current cleaning techniques offer good cost-benefit ratios, they have limitations and face challenges in terms of microbial resistance and ecotoxicity. There is an urgent need for innovative and eco-friendly solutions to combat biodeterioration effectively.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giora J. Kidron, Abraham Starinsky, Bo Xiao
Summary: Regardless of lithology and plant cover, floodwater in the Negev consistently shows enrichment in K+ and Mg2+ ions, which cannot be explained by rock minerals or plant decomposition. Sprinkling experiments suggest that rock and soil-dwelling microorganisms may be responsible for the enrichment, affecting the quality of water in arid zones.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yong Zhang, Fasi Wu, Min Su, Dongpeng He, Ji-Dong Gu, Qinlin Guo, Mian Adnan Kakakhel, Yue Yang, Wanfu Wang, Huyuan Feng
Summary: Climate and environmental conditions play a crucial role in the biological colonization and deterioration of stone heritage materials at open-air sites. The study found that bacterial and algal community structures were closely correlated with climate parameters, while the influence of fungal community structures was relatively minor.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Filippo Vitale, Maria Luisa Saladino, Francesco Armetta, Alessandro Presentato, Rosa Alduina, Alessandro Mercadante, Valeria La Parola, Francesco Giacalone
Summary: In this study, a new biocide based on hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) was developed and tested against a Gram-positive bacterial strain. The hybrid material showed higher antibacterial activity than its single constituents, possibly due to the high local concentration of the ionic liquid anchored to nanoparticles. The material demonstrated promising antibacterial activity on bio-deteriorated stone fragments.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sergio E. Favero-Longo, Enrica Matteucci, Samuele Voyron, Paola Iacomussi, Maria Giuseppina Ruggiero
Summary: Both indirect control of microclimate conditions and direct application of preservative products can help prevent recolonization of cultural heritage surfaces after cleaning interventions. However, the priority of these approaches is poorly evaluated, especially in outdoor environments. This study examined the engraved sandstone surfaces of the National Park of Rock Engravings of Naquane, which were heavily colonized by lichens, mosses, and a dark cyanobacterial biofilm, and evaluated the effectiveness of different conservative treatments in preventing recolonization.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabiana Soares, Joao Trovao, Francisco Gil, Lidia Catarino, Igor Tiago, Antonio Portugal, Susana M. Cardoso
Summary: The study examined the effectiveness of kappa/iota carrageenans from red seaweeds against cyanobacteria proliferation on stones, demonstrating their potential to reduce colonization significantly. Marine-based products, particularly those with antimicrobial properties derived from seaweeds, were highlighted as alternative methods for biocleaning cultural heritage assets.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Duran, Alexandra Rodriguez, Starri Heidmarsson, Jan R. K. Lehmann, Alvaro del Moral, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Asuncion De los Rios
Summary: This study examines the relationship between cryptogamic communities and soil attributes and functioning in polar ecosystems. It found that increased cryptogamic cover is associated with higher levels of organic matter accumulation, soil fertility, bacterial diversity, and enhanced soil functioning rates. However, the study also indicates that the ability of different cryptogamic cover types to influence soil attributes varies, which will largely determine the fate of polar soils in the future.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Irit Nir, Hana Barak, Esti Kramarsky-Winter, Ariel Kushmaro, Asuncion de Los Rios
Summary: The study aims to characterize the microbial colonization of rocks and its impact on ancient petroglyph preservation, revealing extensive microbial colonization and interactions with lithic substrates. Shotgun sequencing analysis indicates microbial involvement in rock element cycles and uptake processes. Deterioration may be caused by microbial colonization, affecting the preservation of rock art during dissolution and mineralization processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Asuncion de los Rios, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Alicia Limon, Errol D. Cason, Gillian Maggs-Kolling, Don Cowan, Angel Valverde
Summary: This study evaluated the structure and composition of lichen-dominated hypolithic communities found in the coastal zone of the Namib Desert, which differed in bacterial composition and structural organization from those found in inland areas, possibly due to specific microenvironmental conditions. Additionally, moisture derived from fog and dew could be the main driver of this unique hypolithic colonization.
Article
Microbiology
Miguel Blazquez, Lucia S. Hernandez-Moreno, Francisco Gasulla, Israel Perez-Vargas, Sergio Perez-Ortega
Summary: Speciation in oceanic islands has been a topic of interest for scientists since the 19th century. Adaptive radiation, which is the process of a lineage giving rise to different species through ecological speciation, is a striking evolutionary phenomenon that can be observed in islands. This study examines the role of the trophic niche in a potential radiation of endemic species from the Macaronesian Region, specifically the Ramalina decipiens group. The research finds that there is no segregation of the trophic niche in this group.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos A. Guerra, Miguel Berdugo, David J. Eldridge, Nico Eisenhauer, Brajesh K. Singh, Haiying Cui, Sebastian Abades, Fernando D. Alfaro, Adebola R. Bamigboye, Felipe Bastida, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Asuncion de los Rios, Jorge Duran, Tine Grebenc, Javier G. Illan, Yu-Rong Liu, Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Steven Mamet, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Jose L. Moreno, Arpan Mukherjee, Tina U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Cesar Plaza, Sergio Pico, Jay Prakash Verma, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Leho Tedersoo, Alberto L. Teixido, Cristian Torres-Diaz, Pankaj Trivedi, Juntao Wang, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Eli Zaady, Xiaobing Zhou, Xin-Quan Zhou, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: Soils are fundamental for terrestrial ecosystems, but a global assessment of hotspots for soil nature conservation is still lacking, hindering the establishment of conservation priorities. A global field survey identified different ecological dimensions of soils in various regions of the planet, emphasizing the importance of accounting for the multidimensionality of soil for future conservation efforts.
Article
Plant Sciences
William B. Sanders, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: The minute crustose thalli of foliicolous lichen-forming fungi with unicellular green algal partners were examined using SEM-BSE imaging. The thalli were found to have different anatomies compared to previous studies on foliicolous Gomphillaceae, with a mostly continuous layer of mycobiont hyphae on the upper surface and the absence of a covering layer in Byssoloma leucoblepharum. The prothallus of the lecanoralean taxa examined was derived from hyphae continuous with either the upper or lower surface of the thallus, suggesting different developmental origins among lichen-forming fungi.
Article
Ecology
Javier Ortiz-Rivero, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Starri Heiomarsson, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: Cryptogamic covers, such as bryophytes and lichens, are the first visible colonizers of deglaciated areas in polar tundra regions. In this study, we analyzed the influence of bryophyte covers dominated by different lineages on the diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities, as well as the abiotic attributes of soils in the southern part of the Highlands of Iceland. Our findings indicate that the composition of cryptogamic covers affects soil microbial communities and abiotic attributes, which is valuable for predicting the biotic responses of polar ecosystems to future climate change.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
David J. Eldridge, Emilio Guirado, Peter B. Reich, Raul Ochoa-Hueso, Miguel Berdugo, Tadeo Saez-Sandino, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Leho Tedersoo, Cesar Plaza, Jingyi Ding, Wei Sun, Steven Mamet, Haiying Cui, Ji-Zheng He, Hang-Wei Hu, Blessing Sokoya, Sebastian Abades, Fernando Alfaro, Adebola R. Bamigboye, Felipe Bastida, Asuncion de los Rios, Jorge Duran, Juan J. Gaitan, Carlos A. Guerra, Tine Grebenc, Javier G. Illan, Yu-Rong Liu, Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Max Mallen-Cooper, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Jose L. Moreno, Tina U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Sergio Pico, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Christina Siebe, Alberto L. Teixido, Cristian Torres-Diaz, Pankaj Trivedi, Juntao Wang, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Tianxue Yang, Eli Zaady, Xiaobing Zhou, Xin-Quan Zhou, Guiyao Zhou, Shengen Liu, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: A global survey of soil attributes reveals that mosses play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant pathogen control. This comprehensive field study demonstrates that soil mosses contribute to soil biodiversity and function across different environments worldwide.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Patricia Moya, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Salvador Chiva, Sergio Perez-Ortega, Miguel Blazquez, Tamara Pazos, Tarek Hamel, Leena Myllys, Tor Tonsberg, Per-Anders Esseen, Pedro Carrasco, Eva Barreno
Summary: This study analyzed 120 samples of R. farinacea to unravel its evolutionary history. The results revealed that R. farinacea and its close relatives originated during relatively recent geological times and expanded their range to higher latitudes. However, it remains uncertain whether the species originated exclusively from the Macaronesian archipelagos or also from the Mediterranean Basin.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Robert A. Blanchette, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: Fungi are the most diverse group of eukaryotic organisms in the Antarctic continent and nearby archipelagos, dominating communities in various habitats. This study focused on identifying and understanding the phylogenetic relationships of deadly fungal species Galerina in Antarctica. Through molecular sequencing and analysis, it was found that the Antarctic specimens belonged to sub-cosmopolitan species, with closely related genetic lineages in northern Europe and North America. These species may also host Antarctic-endemic lineages, with populations originating in the Pleistocene timeframe, aligning with the colonization of other Antarctic plant and fungal communities.
Article
Ecology
Sergio Perez-Ortega, Miguel Verdu, Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Sonia Rabasa, T. G. Allan Green, Leopoldo G. Sancho, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: Networks of interactions between lichen-forming fungi and their photosynthetic partners in lichen communities in continental Antarctica along a latitudinal transect show high specialization and modularity, with no significant changes along the latitudinal gradient. Future research should investigate whether these patterns are widespread in lichen communities in regions with milder climates and on different substrates.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isaac Garrido-Benavent, Asuncion de los Rios, Jano Nunez-Zapata, Rudiger Ortiz-Alvarez, Matthias Schultz, Sergio Perez-Ortega
Summary: This study used a comprehensive dataset and genetic analysis to investigate the species boundaries, evolutionary relationships, and geographic distribution of the genus Lichina. The results identified four species in the genus, with L. pygmaea, L. confinis, and the newly described L. canariensis found in the Northern Hemisphere and L. intermedia restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. The genetic diversity of L. intermedia was much higher than the other species, suggesting species-level lineages within this species.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mar Villar-dePablo, Carmen Ascaso, Esther Rodriguez-Perez, Marta Urizal, Jacek Wierzchos, Sergio Perez-Ortega, Asuncion de los Rios
Summary: This study tested the effectiveness of biocide-based treatments on microbial colonization of a dolostone quarry in both short and long-term using a dual analytical strategy. The results showed that the effects of biocides on different microbial taxa varied and were related to their recolonization abilities. The study highlights the importance of combining metabarcoding and microscopy techniques to analyze treatment effects and design effective strategies for preventing biodeterioration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Luis Andres Yarzabal, Lenys Buela, Asuncion de los Rios, Diana Pelaez, Martha Romero, Fernando Espinoza, Alisson Samantha Torres, Gina Maritza Medina, Jaqueline Gabriela Landi, Marco Vinicio Tapia
Summary: Scientific studies on the biodeterioration of stone monuments at high altitudes in permanently cold mountainous regions are lacking. This study focuses specifically on the Inca site Ingapirca's Temple of the Sun in the Ecuadorian Andes, aiming to identify the bacteria responsible for the deterioration of this type of monument. The researchers discovered the detrimental impact of crustose lichen thalli and heterotrophic bacteria on the mineral structure of the green andesite mineral used in the construction of the temple. Several bacteria species were isolated, characterized, and identified, with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria dominating the culturable fraction of the community. This study is the first report on the biodeterioration of an Inca monument at such a high altitude in the Andes range.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shaofeng Zhou, Wenwen An, Cuifen Gan, Meiying Xu
Summary: Bacteria generate and release extracellular reactive oxygen species (eROS), which significantly contribute to the natural ROS pool and play a crucial role in metabolic interactions of bacteria with their environment. Understanding the behavior of eROS-generating bacteria and its environmental implications is of great importance in the cycling of biogeochemical elements, transformation of organic matter, and regulation of antibiotic resistance genes.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ji-Dong Gu, Tim Ford, Bryce Mitton, Ralph Mitchell
Summary: Plastics and microplastics are widely present and accumulating in the environment, leading to increasing public attention. In addition to packaging plastics, materials from industries such as electronics, space and aviation are also accumulating, but receiving less attention. The production of degradable and biodegradable plastics is seen as a way to reduce environmental impacts, but enhancing the non-degradability of functional polymers is also a feasible option. Microbial colonization and deterioration pose significant challenges to these materials.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Justyna Bohacz, Michal Mozejko
Summary: This study evaluated the keratinolytic activity of 37 strains of Trichophyton ajelloi and found that pigmented strains isolated from loamy soil were more efficient in degrading native feather keratin, while non-pigmented strains isolated from chernozem showed better abilities. The keratinolytic activity increased over time, as evidenced by the increase in extracellular keratinase activity and release of soluble proteins and peptides. Protease activity peaked in the first 7 days and again on day 28 of culture. The release of ammonium and sulfate ions, associated with an increase in pH, reached its maximum on day 21. Three pigment-producing strains were among the most active in releasing large amounts of ammonium and sulfate ions. The biodegradation of feather waste by Trichophyton ajelloi strains can be used to produce fertilizers suitable for plants with high sulfur requirements.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph M. Suflita, Brenda J. Little
Summary: This article reviews the major achievements of the International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society (IBBS) on its 50th anniversary and provides recommendations for addressing new challenges and developments based on personal experiences.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhenyan Lin, Tuo Jin, Xin Xu, Xiao Yin, Dan Zhang, Mengjiao Geng, Chunyu Pang, Gongwen Luo, Lizhi Xiong, Jianwei Peng, Jiangchi Fei
Summary: The incomplete recycle of residual mulch film (RMF) in recent years has led to an increase in plastic fragments in soil, posing a serious threat to the soil ecological environment. In this study, seven potential plastic-degrading microorganisms were screened and identified from film-mulched vegetable fields. The degradation ability experiments showed that both single strains and mixed strains demonstrated varying levels of degradation of RMF.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tiina Belt, Michael Altgen, Muhammad Awais, Martin Nopens, Lauri Rautkari
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of heat-treated wood by brown rot fungi and found that the decay increased the hygroscopicity of wood in the decaying state. Furthermore, it was observed that heat-treated samples were more susceptible to fungal decay compared to untreated samples, which may be related to the increase in moisture content.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta Cicardi, Davide Bernasconi, Luca Martire, Linda Pastero, Giulia Caneva, Sergio E. Favero-Longo
Summary: This study investigated the phenomenon of Centimetric circular areas Uncolonized by Microbial Biofilms (CUMBs) on natural and heritage stone surfaces. The analysis revealed a compatibility in distribution and size between CUMBs and lichen thalli, suggesting a lichen origin for some CUMBs. Microscopic analysis also showed similar modifications in marble layers beneath CUMBs and lichens, indicating a possible alteration of stone properties by lichens.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)