Madalin Enache
Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, Romania
Title: Halophilic microorganisms from mural paintings in old Romanian historical monument church and their interactions with nanomaterials
Biography
Biography: Madalin Enache
Abstract
The mural painting can be bio-deteriorated by micro-organisms in different ways depending on the taxonomic affiliation of micro-organisms, their biology and succession while on a surface. The rate of bio-deterioration is dependent on microclimate conditions, the chemical structure of deposits, the interrelation between bio-deteriogenes and some chemical processes. During colonization of the mural painting surface, some species of micro-organisms synthesize pigments which could be released into the substrate or remain localized within cells but the mural painting surface appears colored. The bio-pigmentation change esthetical appearance of the mural painting or mortar where micro bio-deteriogenes develop. In our case studies (the refectory of Hurezi Monastery and the pre-nave of Humor Monastery), the pink bio-pigmentation is the result of mural painting colonization by halophilic bacteria, namely new strain of Garicola genus and some strains of Halobacillus spp. They have the ability to grow in media with negligible salt concentration until saturation (extremely halophilic archaea). Taking into account the complexity of salt composition in mural paintings, it appears that these could be a favorable environment from several moderately halophilic micro-organisms. On the other hand, the investigated halophilic micro-organisms showed various growth answers when their culture medium was supplemented with TiO2 nanoparticles. Such kinds of nanomaterials are currently investigated for their potential use in re-saturation procedures of bio-deteriorated historical monuments.