Investigation on microbial deterioration of exquisite collection of old manuscripts in Iran (original) (raw)
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Fungal contaminations in historical manuscripts at Astan Quds museum library, Mashhad, Iran
Bio-deterioration of library materials is a worldwide problem, which is the great damage to unique manuscripts and books. This paper presents the state of fungal contamination in Astan Quds museum library. Astan Quds library is a major cultural collection, which contains many historical manuscripts that are centuries old. In this investigation 495 randomly selected manuscripts were examined. Books were visually inspected for fungal growth or damage. The pages were scraped and examined microscopically and cultured. Seventy-nine manuscripts were invaded and damaged by molds and four books by yeasts. The most common isolated fungi were: Aspergillus spp. (41%) and Penicillium (22.9%). Fungal contaminations were observed in 50 books; while direct microscopic examination and culture showed 79 contaminated manuscripts. Considering heavy fungal contamination of invaluable handwritten books in this library, environmental condition should be improved in a way that fungal growth reaches to minimum. Potential sources of fungal contamination should be eliminated wherever possible.
Life
This study aims to assess the deterioration aspects of a historical manuscript dating back to the 14th century that was deposited in the Library of the Arabic Language Academy, Cairo, Egypt. The study aims at the exploration of the role of various fungal strains that had colonized this deteriorated manuscript in its biodeterioration through their efficacy in the secretion of various hydrolytic enzymes. To evaluate the deterioration, various techniques, including visual inspection, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), color change, and pH value, were utilized. The fungal strains linked to the historical document were isolated, identified, and evaluated for their deterioration activities. The findings demonstrate that the manuscript exhibits a variety of deterioration signs including color change, brittleness and weakness, erosion, and removal of the grain surface pattern in leather bi...
Aerobiologia, 2016
Health problems in people who are in indoor environments with poor ventilation have resulted in an increase in the number of studies regarding air quality. Microorganisms and inferior indoor air-climatic conditions not only affect human health but also cause decay of invaluable materials present in libraries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the culturable bioaerosol composition and concentration in the library of Istanbul University. The culturable fungal flora, a biodeterioration agent, of the damaged archival materials was also examined. The air was sampled for a year, as were the surfaces of 207 biologically damaged books. The fungal colonies' range was between 235 and 1850 CFU/m 3 , and the bacterial colonies range between 270 and 1920 CFU/ m 3. This is the first volumetric record in Turkey. Although the microbial contamination was not very high, molds such as Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria alternata, Chaetomium globosum, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus ochraceus might cause harm to human beings or to books as biodeterioration agents. The highest amount of fungus was determined in Archive 3, which contained damaged books. The fungal species isolated from the air and books were essentially the same. Therefore, it is important to determine not only the numeric values but also the microbiological composition of fungal colonies because the variety of fungal species is indicative of a deterioration process in effect over a long period. The deterioration of books must be remedied.
Biofouling, 2014
The microbial risk for the conservation of seven 16th century parchment manuscripts, which showed brown discolouration putatively caused by microorganisms, was evaluated using noninvasive sampling techniques, microscopy, studies of surface-associated and airborne microflora with culture-independent molecular methods, and by measuring repository thermo-hygrometric values. Microscopic observations and ATP assays demonstrated a low level of contamination, indicating that the discolouration was not related to currently active microbial colonisation. Nevertheless, a culture-independent molecular approach was adopted to fully characterise surfaceassociated communities searching for biodeteriogens that could grow under appropriate thermohygrometric conditions. Indeed, potential biodeteriogens and microorganisms that are ecologically related to humans were found, suggesting the need to control the conservation environment and improve handling procedures. Microbial loads of air and thermo-hygrometric measurements showed that the repository was not suitable to prevent the microbial deterioration of parchment. A holistic approach to the assessment of risk of microbial deterioration of documents and heritage preservation is proposed for the first time.
Fungal deterioration of old manuscripts of European paper origin
AIP Conference Proceedings, 2018
Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon has collection of five old manuscripts of European origin from 19 th century, and the former library of Faculty of Humanities Universitas Indonesia has collection of four old manuscripts of European paper origin from 19-20 th centuries. The objectives of this study were to isolate and morphologically characterize fungi from nine old manuscripts of European origin. All manuscripts showed brown and black spots, and fungal spores on the surfaces. Observation by loop was carried out in the field to determine the type of paper and to detect biodeterioration of the manuscripts. Twenty-two fungal isolates were obtained by sterile cotton swab and the culture-dependent method on Dichloran Glycerol Agar (DG18). Detection of fungal deterioration on paper was investigated by using paper strip method with old paper of European origin on Czapek's Dox Agar (CDA) without carbon source. The paper strips were inoculated with cell suspension at a concentration of approximately 1x10 7 cell/mL. Twenty fungal isolates were able to grow on the old paper strips indicating that the old manuscripts are liable to fungal degradation. The fungal isolates were xerophilic in nature. Morphological characterization described the fungal isolates in the genera of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Eurotium. Three fungal isolates could not be described and were grouped as Mycelia sterilia. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST)-based identification and phylogeny-based identification using the data set of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences is required to determine the species identities of the fungal strains.
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 2013
Background: The importance of preserving and maintaining printed materials is crucial for the libraries. Fungi play the main role in destroying wood and paper. Objectives: This research aimed to study and identify threatening fungal agents of library resources in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive analytical study. 126 samples were collected and examined for the presence of fungi. An open plate method was used to scan airborne fungal contents and triplicate samples were collected at four different locations in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. The fungal culture media were incubated at 25-30 ºC until growth appeared and then the fungi colonies were identified by routine mycological laboratory methods. Results: 1265 colonies of fungi belonging to 26 genera were identified in the air and different surfaces of books (references and circulation departments) and also surfaces of shelves in libraries. Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. and Alternaria sp. were the most common isolated fungi in libraries of Isfahan University of medical sciences. Conclusions: We suggest training librarians as one of the most important steps in libraries to preserve library materials because having no knowledge about threatening factors and the way to fight with them are the main reasons of most frequent damages to library resources. Using new methods and technologies of preserving and maintenance of materials should be a priority in library managers' planning.
Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, 2018
Manuscripts are among the valuable heritage of any society, having recorded the thoughts and science of their own era with the passage of time in order to transfer them to later generations [1]. In their composition, the most eloquent script of the time was used and skillfully fashioned with special designs such as illumination when all condi - tions were met; important points to consider for this aspect were the subject, author, calligraphy and size of the manuscripts. The efforts made by the author to prepare the paper and use the appropriate in - struments to write are a separate topic. However, different scientific, historical, social, cultural, etc. values are hidden in each manuscript. Since they have become a library- based collection, they are regarded as valuable and outstanding heritage. The higher the number of manuscripts in a library the greater the value of the collections housed therein. Thus, when only one of the library books is known as world heritage and is recorded in the world heritage list, it becomes and consequently represents the scien - tific and cultural credit of that human society, bringing pride and growth for the country. Considering climate conditions, the mentioned copies and library collection are ex - posed to biological, physical and chemical damage. In such cases, biological factors, especially micro-organisms, are highly emphasized, since they use book materials as nutrition and produce chemical effects. In order to identify the micro-organisms present in the Central Tabriz Library, which is neither the first nor second place in the country in terms of number of books, while it is ranked first in terms of its contents and universally-registered works, it is necessary to consider this issue as a scientific research topic, and as a way of preparing conser - vation methods to protect the materials against damaging micro-organisms. It can thus be implemented as a fundamental science in manuscript archive centers. Based on the conducted analysis, attempts were made to utilize those scientific capacities which were already available in Iran, based on library, field, and laboratory studies in order to develop and adopt an appropriate plan of conservation science. In this regard, the present study aimed to understand, analyze, and deduce from the col - lected data and recorded findings and considering it a priority in amending the guide - lines.
Annals of Microbiology, 2013
The content of libraries in Fez is an important historical testimony and a treasure of knowledge of several civilizations. Unfortunately, this cultural heritage has suffered deterioration caused by many factors, including microbial deterioration specifically by cellulolytic fungi. The aim of our study was the identification and characterization of the microflora that damage historical manuscripts books from an old library of the Medina of Fez. A total of 31 filamentous fungi were isolated from deteriorated paper of ancient books. Nine of these isolates were screened positive for the ability to degrade carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The ability of the nine isolates to produce filter paper activity (FPUase) in liquid media as well as the effect of temperature and pH were also studied. According to the molecular identification, the most frequent species were Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor racemosus, and other less frequent, such as Hypocrea lixii , Aspergillus melleus and Schizophyllum commune were also present. Also, the effect of fungal contamination in paper artificially attacked for 18 months at 25°C was examined. The fungal strains were able to degrade filter paper to varying degrees.
2018
Central Library Universitas Indonesia has a collection of old Chinese manuscripts predicted from 18 th-19 th century. The collected manuscripts showed signs of deterioration by microorganisms. The objectives of this study were to characterize morphologically and microscopically the isolated filamentous fungi from two deteriorated old Chinese manuscripts from plot 1 Ruang Naskah Central Library Universitas Indonesia. Observation by stereo microscope was carried out to examine the biodeterioration of the old Chinese manuscripts. Sterile cotton swab was used to obtain samples and culture dependent method was used to isolate fungi. The old manuscripts showed signs of deterioration, i.e., brown and black spots on the manuscripts, and the presence of fungal spores. Five fungal isolates were obtained based on the morphological type differences. Based on morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified to the genus level as Aspergillus (2 isolates), Cladosporium (1 isolate), and Penicillium (2 isolates), and they were anamorphic fungi. The results of this study showed that the old Chinese manuscripts were deteriorated by filamentous fungi. Molecular identification by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions is required to determine the species identities of the fungal strains.
Microbial Ecology, 2010
This case study shows the application of nontraditional diagnostic methods to investigate the microbial consortia inhabiting an ancient manuscript. The manuscript was suspected to be biologically deteriorated and SEM observations showed the presence of fungal spores attached to fibers, but classic culturing methods did not succeed in isolating microbial contaminants. Therefore, molecular methods, including PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and clone libraries, were used as a sensitive alternative to conventional cultivation techniques. DGGE fingerprints revealed a high biodiversity of both bacteria and fungi inhabiting the manuscript. DNA sequence analysis confirmed the existence of fungi and bacteria in manuscript samples. A number of fungal clones identified on the manuscript showed similarity to fungal species inhabiting dry or saline environments, suggesting that the manuscript environment selects for osmophilic or xerophilic fungal species. Most of the bacterial sequences retrieved from the manuscript belong to phylotypes with cellulolytic activities.