Biodeterioration of epoxy resin: a microbial survey through culture‐independent and culture‐dependent approaches. (7th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pangallo, Domenico; Bučková, Maria; Kraková, Lucia; Puškárová, Andrea; Šaková, Nikoleta; Grivalský, Tomaš; Chovanová, Katarina; Zemánková, Milina
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology. Volume 17:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 462
• Page End: 479
• Publication Date: 2014-07-07
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-2912

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>During the 20th century, synthetic polymers were greatly used in the field of art. In particular, the epoxy resins were used for both conservation and for creating sculptures. The biodeterioration of these polymers has not been adequately studied. The aim of this investigation was to examine the microflora responsible for the deterioration of an epoxy statue exposed to outdoor conditions. Fungal and bacterial microflora were isolated from the art object, clustered by fluorescence‐ITS (internal transcribed spacer), identified by ITS and 16S rRNA sequencing and tested for their lipolytic abilities by three agar assays. Different algal, bacterial, cyanobacterial and fungal clone libraries were constructed. The surrounding airborne microflora was analyzed using culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approaches. The results indicated the presence, on the statue surface, of an interesting and differentiate microbial community composed of rock‐inhabiting members, algal photobionts (<italic>T</italic><italic>rebouxia</italic> spp., <italic>C</italic><italic>hloroidium ellipsoideum</italic> and <italic>C</italic><italic>hlorella angustoellipsoidea</italic>), Cyanobacteria (<italic>L</italic><italic>eptolyngbya</italic> sp., <italic>P</italic><italic>hormidium</italic> sp., <italic>C</italic><italic>ylindrospermum stagnale</italic>, <italic>H</italic><italic>assallia byssoidea</italic> and <italic>G</italic><italic>eitlerinema</italic> sp.), black yeasts related to the species <italic>F</italic><italic>riedmanniomyces endolithicus</italic>, <italic>P</italic><italic>seudotaeniolina globosa</italic>, <italic>P</italic><italic>haeococcomyces catenatus</italic> and <italic>C</italic><italic>atenulostroma germanicum</italic> and several plant‐associated fungi. This investigation provides new information on the potential microfloral inhabitants of epoxy resin discovering a new ecological niche, occupied mainly by several members of rock‐colonizing microbial species.</p> </abstract>