Molecular and microscopical investigation of the microflora inhabiting a deteriorated Italian manuscript dated from the thirteenth century.
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.
Michaelsen
Astrid
A
Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, Austria.
Piñar
Guadalupe
G
Pinzari
Flavia
F
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008373:Manuscripts as Topic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal
Microbiol Res. 2008;163(2):121-31
17686620
J Microbiol Methods. 2001 Jun;45(2):77-87
11311392
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2002 Mar;68(3):1047-54
11872449
Mycopathol Mycol Appl. 1959 Dec 30;12:1-45
13811731
J Bacteriol. 2000 Apr;182(7):1910-5
10714996
FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2001 Jan;34(3):229-241
11137603
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993 Mar;59(3):695-700
7683183
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 Apr;66(4):1444-52
10742225
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2007 Jul;45(1):87-94
17594466
Food Microbiol. 2008 Apr;25(2):413-21
18206785
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1996 Apr;62(4):1405-15
8919802
J Appl Microbiol. 2003;94(1):25-34
12492920
Nucleic Acids Res. 1990 Apr 25;18 Suppl:2237-317
1692117
Food Microbiol. 2008 Sep;25(6):831-6
18620976
J Appl Microbiol. 2006 Sep;101(3):620-7
16907812
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2001 Dec;80(3-4):275-86
11827213
J Antibiot (Tokyo). 1996 Nov;49(11):1101-4
8982338
Biodegradation. 2001;12(4):259-63
11826908
FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2002 Dec 1;42(3):327-37
19709292
J Gen Appl Microbiol. 2008 Dec;54(6):399-407
19164883
Curr Microbiol. 1995 May;30(5):255-8
7766152
Nucleic Acids Res. 1997 Sep 1;25(17):3389-402
9254694
Phytopathology. 2000 Apr;90(4):384-9
18944588
J Appl Microbiol. 2004;97(6):1228-35
15546414
J Appl Microbiol. 1998 Jun;84(6):1069-84
9717292
Microb Ecol. 2002 Apr;43(3):329-40
12037611
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003 Sep;69(9):5389-97
12957927
J Gen Appl Microbiol. 1999 Feb;45(1):29-37
12501399
Mycopathologia. 1978 Sep 1;64(1):13-6
714145