Search

The aim of this study was to determine the cause of foxing on 19th century paper using omics methods, including metagenomics via high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform and metabolomics via high-resolution surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-ToF-MS) imaging using the gold nanoparticle-enhanced target (AuNPET) method. Metabolomic analysis as well as ninhydrin and amido black staining of paper samples showed the presence of proteinaceous substances in areas corresponding to foxing. Products of cellulose biodegradation and microbial metabolites, including yellow-coloured pigments (2-methyl-6-phytylquinol; delta-, gamma- and beta-tocopherols; 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine) were detected. No difference in metal-ion content was seen between areas with and without foxing. Higher degrees of biodiversity were identified within foxing stains compared to foxing-free areas. Phoma sp. and Cladonia sp. moulds and Gluconobacter and Ralstonia bacteria were predominant in DNA samples obtained from foxing stains. The presence of these microbes has never previously been linked to the phenomenon of foxing. These studies indicate that foxing is a result of a combined effect of microbial action, paper-degradation by microbes, dye production, and chemical changes occurring in paper due to oxidation of cellulose metabolites.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low temperature plasma (LTP) disinfection and its impact on cotton, linen, and silk. Research included: optimization of LTP parameters (time: 5, 10 min, gases: oxygen, nitrogen, argon and their mixtures); antimicrobial effectiveness of LTP for artificially aged and 19 th -20th century textiles; impact of LTP on the mechanical, optical and structural (SEM, FTIR) textiles properties, and their susceptibility to colonization by microorganisms after LTP. The effectiveness of LTP disinfection was evaluated for the following microorganisms: Streptomyces sp., Bacillus megaterium , Pseudomonans fluorescens (silk), Aspergillus niger , Penicillium funiculosum and Trichoderma viride (cotton and linen). LTP for 10 min with oxygen provided the highest antimicrobial effect, and the number of microorganisms was reduced by 1–4-fold on the logarithmic scale (R = 69.64–99.99%), depending on the strain and textile. LTP increased textiles’ breaking strength. LTP did not caused significant changes in molecular structure of the fiber-forming polymers (cellulose and fibroin). In addition, it also lightened the colour and microdamaged the disinfected textiles. Nevertheless, LTP prevented microorganisms from colonizing the textiles for up to 21 days. Thus, this method can be a suitable alternative to currently used disinfection methods for textile, but should be used carefully for historical textiles.

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolite profile of the moulds Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Trichoderma under model conditions on MEA (malt extract agar) medium and carton-gypsum board (CGB). This was followed by comparison of the metabolite profile of each particular strain and of a mixed culture of all moulds together. Metabolome analysis was performed using a high-resolution surface assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry based on a gold nanoparticle-enhanced target (AuNPET SALDI-ToF-MS) imaging method. All water extracts tested showed the presence of compounds with molecular weights in the range of 80–2000 m/z (mass-to-charge ratio). On CGB, the results obtained showed the existence of 299–453 peaks with higher intensity and 351–487 peaks with lower intensity compared to the peaks obtained from MEA, depending on the mould species. A distinct change in the metabolite profile under the influence of the growth medium was observed for the mixed culture on the MEA medium. The profile showed ∼200 peaks with higher intensities of metabolites within m/z ranges 80–300 and 450–600; for the culture growing on CGB, the peak intensity was within m/z 300–450, and the number of peaks was 600–750. A new metabolomic methodology allowed the identification of 89 metabolites belonging to 48 metabolomic pathways. Compounds belonging to the citrate cycle and penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthesis pathways were identified on MEA. On CGB moulds, the metabolism changed to steroid, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis.

The aim of this study was to characterise the microbial and metabolite diversity in samples of biodeteriorated 18th century silk from the burial crypts of the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Krakow (Poland). Highthroughput Illumina sequencing, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry on a silver nanoparticle enhanced target (109Ag SALDI), and laser ablation-remote-electrospray ionisation-selected reaction monitoring-ambient mass spectrometry imaging (LARESI MSI) were employed. The use of high throughput Illumina sequencing helped obtain a broader picture of microbiocenosis compared to earlier studies. The 109Ag SALDI method enabled the qualitative analysis of the entire chemical compound profile of silk. A few hundred metabolites, including peptides, amino acids, urea and organic acids dominated by N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine, decanoylcholine, formiminoalanine and hexacosatrienoic acid were detected in archaeological silk, whereas about 100 metabolites, mainly represented by polymers, were detected in contemporary and restored silk. The novel ambient MS imaging method LARESI MSI, used for the first time for the archaeological silk biodeterioration analysis, allowed the direct detection and mapping of selected amino acids, historical dyes and dihydroxybenzoic acid (decomposition product of tannins) on the silk samples. Based on our results, the suitability of the tested methods should also be considered for other historical objects.

The aim of the study was to determine microbial and metabolites diversity on the samples of damaged mediaeval beeswax seals from the Archdiocese Archive of Gniezno, Poland. We employed high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform and 109Ag SALDI metabolome analysis for the first time to assess biodeterioration of the beeswax seals. Bacteria belonged to the genera Mesorhizobium, Delftia, Ralstonia, Burkholderia, Stenotrophomonas, Olsenella and fungi: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium, Malassezia, and others microorganisms identified with lower relative abundance may be responsible for the biodeterioration of the seals analysed. Between 112 and 456 chemical compounds were identified on the seal samples. In all samples, fatty acids, mono- di- and triglycerides, hydrocarbons and lipids including glycerophosphocholines, glycerophosphoethanolamines, glycerophosphoserines, glycerophosphoglycerols, glycerophosphates, glycerophosphoinositols, ceramides and sphingomyelins, were detected. Chemical compounds including fatty oxyacids and metabolites of microbiological origin belonged to 20 metabolic pathways can be considered as indicators of biodeterioration of beeswax seals. The usefulness of new available methods - high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform and 109Ag SALDI in historical seals biodeterioration analysis was demonstrated.