Microbial Communities in Cultural Heritage and Their Control

• Format: eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
• Subjects: acidic attack; aDNA; air quality; Alhambra; amoeba; animal; antifouling; antimicrobial activity; bacteria; bio-desalination; biochemical processes; biocides; biocleaning; biodeteriogens; biodeterioration; biofilm; biofilms; biological control; canvas painting biodeterioration; carboxymethyl cellulose activity; cleaning procedure; conservation; contactless test; control; cultural heritage; cultural heritage conservation; cyanobacteria; diatoms; eco-friendly biocides; ecology of biodeterioration; essential oil; fungi; GC-MS; Generalife; granite pavement; green conservation; green microalgae; green strategy; high-throughput sequencing; hydro-alcoholic extract; information modelling; ionic liquids; lavender; liquorice; MDS; microbial community; microbiome; microorganisms; MinION approach; mural paintings; museum; Nanhai No.1 shipwreck; next-generation sequencing; nitrate; nitrogen cycle; PAM; PCR amplicon; phototrophic biofilms; phyto-derivative; plant; plant essential oils; plant products; Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects; Research and information: general; SEM; show caves; SMART conservation; stone and rock; stone biodeterioration; stone fountains; sulfur cycle; terpenoid varnishes; volatile components; wood lacquers
• ISBN: 3036530517; 9783036530512; 3036530509; 9783036530505
• DOI: 10.3390/books978-3-0365-3051-2

Cultural heritage plays a key role in understanding the history of humankind; therefore, the adoption of appropriate strategies for its conservation is essential. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and microalgae, which are usually organized on the surface in microbial communities as “biofilms”, can cause serious problems in the conservation of cultural heritage, making the adoption of prevention and conservation strategies a critical issue. This editorial focuses on studies published within the present Special Issue that present advances in the field of the biodeterioration of cultural heritage caused by microbial communities, with a particular focus on new methods for their elimination and control.