title: Green mitigation strategy for cultural heritage: bacterial potential for biocide production.
abstract: Several biosurfactants with antagonistic activity are produced by a variety of microorganisms. Lipopeptides (LPPs) produced by some Bacillus strains, including surfactin, fengycin and iturin are synthesized nonribosomally by mega-peptide synthetase (NRPS) units and they are particularly relevant as antifungal agents. Characterisation, identification and evaluation of the potentials of several bacterial isolates were undertaken in order to establish the production of active lipopeptides against biodeteriogenic fungi from heritage assets. Analysis of the iturin operon revealed four open reading frames (ORFs) with the structural organisation of the peptide synthetases. Therefore, this work adopted a molecular procedure to access antifungal potential of LPP production by Bacillus strains in order to exploit the bioactive compounds synthesis as a green natural approach to be applied in biodegraded cultural heritage context. The results reveal that the bacterial strains with higher antifungal potential exhibit the same morphological and biochemical characteristics, belonging to the genera Bacillus. On the other hand, the higher iturinic genetic expression, for Bacillus sp. 3 and Bacillus sp. 4, is in accordance with the culture antifungal spectra. Accordingly, the adopted methodology combining antifungal screening and molecular data is represent a valuable tool for quick identification of iturin-producing strains, constituting an effective approach for confirming the selection of lipopeptides producer strains.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal.|HERCULES Laboratory, Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: HERCULES Laboratory, Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal.|HERCULES Laboratory, Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal.|HERCULES Laboratory, Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, School of Sciences and Technology, Évora University, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal. atc@uevora.pt.|HERCULES Laboratory, Évora University, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809, Évora, Portugal. atc@uevora.pt.
authors.forename: Ana Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Caldeira
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D055666:Lipopeptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D055666:Lipopeptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C049972:fengycin
keywords: Antifungal activity; Bacillus sp.; Biosurfactants; Cultural heritage; Green biocides; Lipopeptides; Peptide synthetase