Biodeterioration of historic stained glasses from the Cartuja de Miraflores (Spain)

Microscopic, chemical, and molecular-biological investigation of the decayed medieval stained window glasses of two Catalonian churches

“…Comparing our data with previous studies focusing on the biological deterioration of historical glass, we find a lack of studies that combine different methodologies, with very few exceptions (Carmona et al., 2006). To date, published studies have focused on the microscopic and chemical (Garcia-Valles and Vendrell, 2002, 2003) or on the microbial characterization of historical glass samples by culture-dependent techniques (Marvasi et al., 2009).…”

“…To date, published studies have focused on the microscopic and chemical (Garcia-Valles and Vendrell, 2002, 2003) or on the microbial characterization of historical glass samples by culture-dependent techniques (Marvasi et al., 2009). Only a few published works have reported on the molecular characterization of historical glass samples (Rölleke et al., 1999; Schabereiter-Gurtner et al., 2001b; Carmona et al., 2006). In the first two molecular studies mentioned above, the authors investigated glass samples derived from the historical window of the chapel in Stockkämpen, Germany.…”

“…In addition, with the exception of some few works (Rölleke et al., 1999; Carmona et al., 2006; Marvasi et al., 2009) bacteria were thought not to be dominant colonizers of glass surfaces and not to play a relevant role in the observed deterioration phenomena. The results obtained in the present study clearly show that bacterial communities were more diverse than those of fungi and that the detected bacteria are phylogenetically related to well-known bacteria possessing metabolic activities able to produce the observed biodeterioration of the investigated glasses.…”

“…Investigations of microbial colonization of historical glass have so far been based on culture-dependent methods (Krumbein et al., 1991; Drewello and Weissmann, 1997), with only the exceptions using culture-independent techniques (Rölleke et al., 1999; Schabereiter-Gurtner et al., 2001b; Carmona et al., 2006). In determining the appropriate measures to take against microbial growth on historical glass, it is important to get an overview of the inhabiting microbial populations.…”

Quantification of fungal abundance on cultural heritage using real time PCR targeting the β-actin gene

“…(Piñar et al, 2001b, 2010, 2011, 2013a,b; Schabereiter-Gurtner et al, 2001, 2002, 2004; Carmona et al, 2006; Michaelsen et al, 2006, 2010, 2013; Bastian et al, 2010; Ettenauer et al,2010, 2011; Portillo and González, 2011; López-Miras et al, 2013a,b). To date, molecular techniques are very well established and are complementing to more classical microbiological methods in the study of microorganisms and their role in cultural heritage.…”