Brackish and Hypersaline Lakes as Potential Reservoir for Enzymes Involved in Decomposition of Organic Materials on Frescoes
Ioana Gomoiu,
Roxana Cojoc,
Robert Ruginescu,
Simona Neagu,
Madalin Enache,
Gabriel Maria,
Maria Dumbrăvician,
Ioana Olteanu,
Roxana Rădvan,
Lucian-Cristian Ratoiu,
Victoria Atanassova,
Luminița Ghervase
Affiliations
Ioana Gomoiu
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Cojoc
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Robert Ruginescu
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Simona Neagu
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Madalin Enache
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Gabriel Maria
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, P.O. Box 56-53, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Maria Dumbrăvician
Department of Conservation and Restoration, Faculty of Art History, Bucharest National University of Arts, 19 General Constantin Budișteanu, 010773 Bucharest, Romania
Ioana Olteanu
Department of Conservation and Restoration, Faculty of Art History, Bucharest National University of Arts, 19 General Constantin Budișteanu, 010773 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Rădvan
Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Lucian-Cristian Ratoiu
Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Victoria Atanassova
Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Luminița Ghervase
Centre of Excellence for Restoration by Optoelectronic Techniques, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 077125 Magurele, Romania
This study highlights the decomposing role through the hydrolytic activities of fungi isolated from natural environments represented by brackish and hypersaline lakes in Romania. Novel strains belonging to the Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Emericellopsis genera were isolated and screened for the ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, i.e., proteases, lipases, amylases, cellulases, xylanases, and pectinases. According to salt requirements, they were classified as moderate halophilic and halotolerant strains. Agar plate-based assays with Tween 80, slide cultures with organic deposits, and quantitative evaluation allowed the selection of Aspergillus sp. BSL 2-2, Penicillium sp. BSL 3-2, and Emericellopsis sp. MM2 as potentially good decomposers of organic matter not only in lakes but also on deposits covering the mural paintings. Experiments performed on painted experimental models revealed that only Penicillium sp. BSL 3-2 decomposed Paraloid B72, transparent dispersion of casein, beeswax, sunflower oil, and soot. Moreover, using microscopic, spectroscopic, and imaging methods, it was proved the efficiency of Penicillium sp. BSL 3-2 for decomposition of organic deposits artificially applied on frescoes fragments.
