Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts
Abstract Historical paper documents are susceptible to complex degradation processes, including biodeterioration, which can progressively compromise their aesthetic and structural integrity. This study analyses seventeenth century handwritten historical letters stored at the Correr Museum Library in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57228-2 |
| _version_ | 1797233607359594496 |
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| author | Maria Stratigaki Andrea Armirotti Giuliana Ottonello Sabrina Manente Arianna Traviglia |
| author_facet | Maria Stratigaki Andrea Armirotti Giuliana Ottonello Sabrina Manente Arianna Traviglia |
| author_sort | Maria Stratigaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Historical paper documents are susceptible to complex degradation processes, including biodeterioration, which can progressively compromise their aesthetic and structural integrity. This study analyses seventeenth century handwritten historical letters stored at the Correr Museum Library in Venice, Italy, exhibiting pronounced signs of biodeterioration. The techniques used encompassed traditional colony isolation on agar plates and proteomics analyses, employing nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (nano-LC–MS). Fluorescence microscopy was used for the first time in the historical paper biodeterioration context to supplement the conventional stereoscopic, optical, and scanning electron microscopic imaging techniques. This method enables the visualisation of microorganisms beyond and beneath the paper’s surface through their natural intrinsic autofluorescence in a non-invasive and non-destructive way. The results demonstrate a diverse, complex, and abundant microbiota composed of coexisting fungal and bacterial species (Ascomycota, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria), along with mite carcasses, insects, parasites, and possibly protists. Furthermore, this study reveals certain species that were not previously documented in the biodeterioration of historical paper, including human pathogens, such as Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella, Candida albicans, and species of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. oryzae, A. terreus, A. niger) known to cause infections or produce mycotoxins, posing substantial risk to both artefacts and humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:18:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-950eea69057541088485c35180f56c72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:18:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-950eea69057541088485c35180f56c722024-03-31T11:17:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111810.1038/s41598-024-57228-2Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscriptsMaria Stratigaki0Andrea Armirotti1Giuliana Ottonello2Sabrina Manente3Arianna Traviglia4Center for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT), Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaAnalytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaAnalytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaDepartment of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of VeniceCenter for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT), Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaAbstract Historical paper documents are susceptible to complex degradation processes, including biodeterioration, which can progressively compromise their aesthetic and structural integrity. This study analyses seventeenth century handwritten historical letters stored at the Correr Museum Library in Venice, Italy, exhibiting pronounced signs of biodeterioration. The techniques used encompassed traditional colony isolation on agar plates and proteomics analyses, employing nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (nano-LC–MS). Fluorescence microscopy was used for the first time in the historical paper biodeterioration context to supplement the conventional stereoscopic, optical, and scanning electron microscopic imaging techniques. This method enables the visualisation of microorganisms beyond and beneath the paper’s surface through their natural intrinsic autofluorescence in a non-invasive and non-destructive way. The results demonstrate a diverse, complex, and abundant microbiota composed of coexisting fungal and bacterial species (Ascomycota, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria), along with mite carcasses, insects, parasites, and possibly protists. Furthermore, this study reveals certain species that were not previously documented in the biodeterioration of historical paper, including human pathogens, such as Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella, Candida albicans, and species of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. oryzae, A. terreus, A. niger) known to cause infections or produce mycotoxins, posing substantial risk to both artefacts and humans.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57228-2 |
| spellingShingle | Maria Stratigaki Andrea Armirotti Giuliana Ottonello Sabrina Manente Arianna Traviglia Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts Scientific Reports |
| title | Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts |
| title_full | Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts |
| title_fullStr | Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts |
| title_short | Fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century Venetian manuscripts |
| title_sort | fungal and bacterial species richness in biodeteriorated seventeenth century venetian manuscripts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57228-2 |
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