title: Biodeterioration of epoxy resin: a microbial survey through culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches.
abstract: During the 20th century, synthetic polymers were greatly used in the field of art. In particular, the epoxy resins were used for both conservation and for creating sculptures. The biodeterioration of these polymers has not been adequately studied. The aim of this investigation was to examine the microflora responsible for the deterioration of an epoxy statue exposed to outdoor conditions. Fungal and bacterial microflora were isolated from the art object, clustered by fluorescence-ITS (internal transcribed spacer), identified by ITS and 16S rRNA sequencing and tested for their lipolytic abilities by three agar assays. Different algal, bacterial, cyanobacterial and fungal clone libraries were constructed. The surrounding airborne microflora was analyzed using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The results indicated the presence, on the statue surface, of an interesting and differentiate microbial community composed of rock-inhabiting members, algal photobionts (Trebouxia spp., Chloroidium ellipsoideum and Chlorella angustoellipsoidea), Cyanobacteria (Leptolyngbya sp., Phormidium sp., Cylindrospermum stagnale, Hassallia byssoidea and Geitlerinema sp.), black yeasts related to the species Friedmanniomyces endolithicus, Pseudotaeniolina globosa, Phaeococcomyces catenatus and Catenulostroma germanicum and several plant-associated fungi. This investigation provides new information on the potential microfloral inhabitants of epoxy resin discovering a new ecological niche, occupied mainly by several members of rock-colonizing microbial species.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 21, Bratislava, 845 51, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pangallo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bučková
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kraková
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puškárová
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Šaková
authors.forename: Tomaš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grivalský
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chovanová
authors.forename: Milina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zemánková
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D044822:Biodiversity; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D000362:Agar