title: Biodeterioration Risk Threatens the 3100 Year Old Staircase of Hallstatt (Austria): Possible Involvement of Halophilic Microorganisms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prosperity of Hallstatt (Salzkammergut region, Austria) is based on the richness of salt in the surrounding mountains and salt mining, which is documented as far back as 1500 years B.C. Substantial archaeological evidence of Bronze and Iron Age salt mining has been discovered, with a wooden staircase (1108 B.C.) being one of the most impressive and well preserved finds. However, after its discovery, fungal mycelia have been observed on the surface of the staircase, most probably due to airborne contamination after its find.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As a basis for the further preservation of this valuable object, the active micro-flora was examined to investigate the presence of potentially biodegradative microorganisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the strains isolated from the staircase showed to be halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms, due to the saline environment of the mine. Results derived from culture-dependent assays revealed a high fungal diversity, including both halotolerant and halophilic fungi, the most dominant strains being members of the genus Phialosimplex (synonym: Aspergillus). Additionally, some typical cellulose degraders, namely Stachybotrys sp. and Cladosporium sp. were detected. Numerous bacterial strains were isolated and identified as members of 12 different genera, most of them being moderately halophilic species. The most dominant isolates affiliated with species of the genera Halovibrio and Marinococcus. Halophilic archaea were also isolated and identified as species of the genera Halococcus and Halorubrum. Molecular analyses complemented the cultivation assays, enabling the identification of some uncultivable archaea of the genera Halolamina, Haloplanus and Halobacterium. Results derived from fungi and bacteria supported those obtained by cultivation methods, exhibiting the same dominant members in the communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results clearly showed the presence of some cellulose degraders that may become active if the requirements for growth and the environmental conditions turn suitable; therefore, these microorganisms must be regarded as a threat to the wood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, VIBT-Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piñar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, VIBT-Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalnodar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, VIBT-Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voitl
authors.affiliation: Prehistoric Department, Museum of Natural History, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reschreiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, VIBT-Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sterflinger
mesh_terms: D001108:Architecture / Q000266:history*; D001317:Austria; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006216:Halobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049690:History, Ancient; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial