title: ATP bioluminescence method: tool for rapid screening of organic and microbial contaminants on deteriorated mural paintings.
abstract: The extent of the microbial contamination of the seventeenth-century wall paintings in the nave of the old Church of the Holy Ascension (Veliki Krčimir, Serbia) was evaluated via newly implemented ATP bioluminescence method, and traditional cultivation-based method, utilising commercially available dip slides. To assess the validity of ATP, as a biomarker for rapid detection of mural surface contamination, obtained zones of cleanliness values, in range from 1.0 to 5.3, were compared to documented total microbial counts, ranging between seven and 247 CFU/cm2. Small coefficients of determination, 0.0106-0.0385, suggest poor correlation between microbial counts and surface ATP levels; however, zones of cleanliness values are of great help in determining the high points of contamination, aka 'hotspots', which should be given special attention during sampling and investigation using other methods. In addition, various aspects of the possible implementation of the ATP bioluminescence method in an integrated system of wall painting conservation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Biology, Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology , Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden 'Jevremovac', University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Unković
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Biology, Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology , Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden 'Jevremovac', University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ljaljević Grbić
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Biology, Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology , Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden 'Jevremovac', University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stupar
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Biology, Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology , Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden 'Jevremovac', University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vukojević
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Biology, Department of Algology, Mycology and Lichenology , Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden 'Jevremovac', University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Subakov-Simić
authors.affiliation: b Conservation and restoration department with physico-chemical laboratory , Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jelikić
authors.affiliation: b Conservation and restoration department with physico-chemical laboratory , Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanojević
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D049670:History, 17th Century; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D055771:Serbia
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
keywords: ATP bioluminescence; dip slides; microbial contamination; wall paintings; zones of cleanliness