Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt
A large percentage of the world’s tangible cultural heritage is made from stone; thus, it deteriorates due to physical, chemical, and/or biological factors. The current study explored the microbial community inhabiting two prehistoric sites with high cultural value in the Memphis necropolis of Egypt...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167083/full |
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| author | Samah Mohamed Rizk Mahmoud Magdy Filomena De Leo Olaf Werner Mohamed Abdel-Salam Rashed Rosa M. Ros Clara Urzì |
| author_facet | Samah Mohamed Rizk Mahmoud Magdy Filomena De Leo Olaf Werner Mohamed Abdel-Salam Rashed Rosa M. Ros Clara Urzì |
| author_sort | Samah Mohamed Rizk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A large percentage of the world’s tangible cultural heritage is made from stone; thus, it deteriorates due to physical, chemical, and/or biological factors. The current study explored the microbial community inhabiting two prehistoric sites with high cultural value in the Memphis necropolis of Egypt (Djoser and Lahun Pyramids) using amplicon-based metabarcoding and culture-dependent isolation methods. Samples were examined by epifluorescent microscopy for biological signs before environmental DNA extraction and in vitro cultivation. The metabarcoding analysis identified 644 bacterial species (452 genera) using the 16S rRNA and 204 fungal species (146 genera) using ITS. In comparison with the isolation approach, an additional 28 bacterial species (13 genera) and 34 fungal species (20 genera) were identified. A total of 19 bacterial and 16 fungal species were exclusively culture-dependent, while 92 bacterial and 122 fungal species were culture-independent. The most abundant stone-inhabiting bacteria in the current study were Blastococcus aggregatus, Blastococcus saxobsidens, and Blastococcus sp., among others. The most abundant rock-inhabiting fungi were Knufia karalitana and Pseudotaeniolina globosa, besides abundant unknown Sporormiaceae species. Based on previous reports, microorganisms associated with biodeterioration were detected on color-altered sites at both pyramids. These microorganisms are potentially dangerous as physical and chemical deterioration factors and require proper conservation plans from a microbiological perspective. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:33:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-189f84d185704d7d9f0f67fa78c240ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:33:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-189f84d185704d7d9f0f67fa78c240ac2023-05-18T07:22:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-05-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11670831167083Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, EgyptSamah Mohamed Rizk0Mahmoud Magdy1Filomena De Leo2Olaf Werner3Mohamed Abdel-Salam Rashed4Rosa M. Ros5Clara Urzì6Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptGenetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, Murcia University, Murcia, SpainGenetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptDepartment of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, Murcia University, Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyA large percentage of the world’s tangible cultural heritage is made from stone; thus, it deteriorates due to physical, chemical, and/or biological factors. The current study explored the microbial community inhabiting two prehistoric sites with high cultural value in the Memphis necropolis of Egypt (Djoser and Lahun Pyramids) using amplicon-based metabarcoding and culture-dependent isolation methods. Samples were examined by epifluorescent microscopy for biological signs before environmental DNA extraction and in vitro cultivation. The metabarcoding analysis identified 644 bacterial species (452 genera) using the 16S rRNA and 204 fungal species (146 genera) using ITS. In comparison with the isolation approach, an additional 28 bacterial species (13 genera) and 34 fungal species (20 genera) were identified. A total of 19 bacterial and 16 fungal species were exclusively culture-dependent, while 92 bacterial and 122 fungal species were culture-independent. The most abundant stone-inhabiting bacteria in the current study were Blastococcus aggregatus, Blastococcus saxobsidens, and Blastococcus sp., among others. The most abundant rock-inhabiting fungi were Knufia karalitana and Pseudotaeniolina globosa, besides abundant unknown Sporormiaceae species. Based on previous reports, microorganisms associated with biodeterioration were detected on color-altered sites at both pyramids. These microorganisms are potentially dangerous as physical and chemical deterioration factors and require proper conservation plans from a microbiological perspective.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167083/fulltangible monumentscultural heritagemicrobial genomicsmicrobial isolationbiodeteriorationrock-inhabiting fungi |
| spellingShingle | Samah Mohamed Rizk Mahmoud Magdy Filomena De Leo Olaf Werner Mohamed Abdel-Salam Rashed Rosa M. Ros Clara Urzì Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt Frontiers in Microbiology tangible monuments cultural heritage microbial genomics microbial isolation biodeterioration rock-inhabiting fungi |
| title | Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt |
| title_full | Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt |
| title_fullStr | Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt |
| title_short | Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt |
| title_sort | culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the memphis necropolis egypt |
| topic | tangible monuments cultural heritage microbial genomics microbial isolation biodeterioration rock-inhabiting fungi |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167083/full |
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