Characterization of black patina from the Tiber River embankments using Next-Generation Sequencing

Abstract

Black patinas are very common biological deterioration phenomena on lapideous artworks in outdoor environments. These substrates, exposed to sunlight, and atmospheric and environmental agents (i.e. wind and temperature changes), represent extreme environments that can only be colonized by highly versatile and adaptable microorganisms. Black patinas comprise a wide variety of microorganisms, but the morphological plasticity of most of these microorganisms hinders their identification by optical microscopy. This study used Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) (including shotgun and amplicon sequencing) to characterize the black patina of the travertine embankments (muraglioni) of the Tiber River in Rome (Italy). Overall, the sequencing highlighted the rich diversity of bacterial and fungal communities and allowed the identification of more than one hundred taxa. NGS confirmed the relevance of coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria observed by optical microscopy and revealed an informative landscape of the fungal community underlining the presence of microcolonial fungi and phylloplane yeasts. For the first time high-throughput sequencing allowed the exploration of the expansive diversity of bacteria in black patina, which has so far been overlooked in routine analyses. Furthermore, the identification of euendolithic microorganisms and weathering agents underlines the biodegradative role of black patina, which has often been underestimated. Therefore, the use of NGS to characterize black patinas could be useful in choosing appropriate conservation treatments and in the monitoring of stone colonization after the restoration interventions.

Growth Forms and Functional Guilds Distribution of Soil Fungi in Coastal Versus Inland Sites of Victoria Land, Antarctica

“…Despite that, we reported for the first time the presence in Antarctic soils of the genera Vermiconidia , Friedmanniomyces, and Meristemomyces (order Capnodiales), previously found in these environments only as components of endolithic communities. The genus Vermiconidia , present in both macro areas in seven out of nine localities, comprises saxicolous species previously found in different biomes, such as rocks in Mallorca (Spain), high mountains in the Alps, Antarctic desert, and Italian stone monuments [ 49 , 50 ]. The species Friedmanniomyces endolithicus , recorded in both the environments in five out of nine localities, is a highly melanized fungus endemic of Antarctica, previously found in endolithic communities of Victoria Land, including the McMurdo Dry Valleys [ 51 ].…”

Lignicolous freshwater fungi in Yunnan Province, China: an overview

“…High-throughput sequencing is almost a mature and rapid screening technology, which is widely used in various fields of biological research, including taxonomic identification. High-throughput sequencing provides a wide range of assistance in the study of fungi in various environments, such as oceans (Zhang et al 2018 ; Xu et al 1992 ; Yang et al 2020 ), lakes (Antonelli et al 2020 ; Guan et al 2020 ), soil (Purahong et al 2019 ; Zhang et al 2019 ; Li et al 2020b ) and air (Aguayo et al 2018 ; Woo et al 2018 ). This can effectively solve the problem of the identification of unculturable lignicolous freshwater fungi.…”

A rather dry subject; investigating the study of arid-associated microbial communities

“…Due to environmental challenges, specific reproductive strategies may be employed. For instance, fungi living on extremely dry surfaces using meristematic development in order to reproduce without requiring water for dispersal [ 69 , 70 ]. Within broader arid environments, relatively moist sites tend towards richer and larger microbial communities [ 71 , 72 ], demonstrating the intensive selective pressure of aridity.…”