Microorganisms in Superficial Deposits on the Stone Monuments in Saint Petersburg

Abstract

The composition of superficial deposits in urban environment and their importance in the development of the lithobiotic community of microorganisms has been investigated. Polyols, organic acids, mono- and disaccharides, as well as some amino acids, are the predominant low molecular weight organic components in superficial deposits, although the conditions on the stone surface are undoubtedly oligotrophic. Superficial deposits accumulate heavy metals, including Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd, in surface sediments, among which the potentially toxic elements Zn, Cu, and Pb are accumulated in rather high concentrations. On model of Aspergillus niger as an example, it was shown micromycetes are resistant to heavy metals and retain their physiological activity when grown on this substrate. According to cultural studies, as well as metagenomic analysis, stress-resistant fungi and dark organotrophic bacteria are the main inhabitants of surface sediments. Probably, in the conditions of accumulation of superficial deposits on the stone, these organisms are the main inhabitants of the surface of the stone. With the development of more multi-species lithobiotic communities, they form the core of these communities. In the urban environment this type of primary colonization of the stone is likely realized.

Black Fungi and Stone Heritage Conservation: Ecological and Metabolic Assays for Evaluating Colonization Potential and Responses to Traditional Biocides

“…Even if they were all isolated from a single site, the eighteen strains considered in this study could represent other BF lithic communities even at different latitudes. Knufia, Neodevriesia, Exophiala, Coniosporium, and Vermiconidia are indeed well known genera due to their frequent finding and broad distribution on stone monuments in urbanized areas and natural crops.Their presence has been recorded in the Mediterranean countries as well as in Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Germany, Poland, China and, not least, Antarctica [51][52][53]. Information on their environmental preferences and metabolic traits could be helpful in the future to better understand their geographical distribution.…”

Effect of Cultivable Bacteria and Fungi on the Limestone Weathering Used in Historical Buildings

“…and Mucor circinelloides) isolated from a tomb in the Père-Lachaise Cemetery were able to significantly dissolve limestone grains. These bacteria and fungi have been commonly identified on limestone [4,19,[26][27][28][29].…”

“…Proteobacteria represent the dominant phylum with 18 OTUs identified; actinobacteria and bacteroidetes are also represented with 6 and 2 OTUs, respectively. They were commonly found in soil and water and implied in organic matter decomposition [26]. Nineteen fungi were isolated.…”

Enhancing durability and sustainable preservation of Egyptian stone monuments using metabolites produced by Streptomyces exfoliatus

“…Actinomycetes , particularly the Streptomyces species, became well recognized not only for degrading organic substances such as lignocellulosic biomass, starch, and chitin in sediment 6 , but also for assembling a variety of antimicrobial peptides as alternative bioactive molecules for commercial antibiotics 7 . Further, the observation that these microbial species owned substantial fungal and bacterial suppressive possibilities, despite the reality that the function of Streptomyces species in safeguarding and maintaining stone monuments, has attracted little investigation, clearly demonstrating their significance in Egypt's monument preservation 8 .…”