Differences of airborne and mural microorganisms in a 1,500-year-old Xu Xianxiu’s Tomb, Taiyuan, China

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1253461
• Publication Date: 2023-10-26T06:18:09Z
• Authors: Jiangyun Liu; Fasi Wu; Ting Xiang; Wenxia Ma; Dongpeng He; Qi Zhang; Wanfu Wang; Yulong Duan; Tian Tian; Huyuan Feng
• Keywords: Microbacterium; Cladosporium; Mural; Penicillium citrinum; Cladosporium cladosporioides; Arthrobacter; Brevibacterium; Bacillus (shape); Micrococcus

Microbial colonization represents one of the main threats to conservation subterranean cultural heritage sites. Recently, microbial on murals in tombs has gradually attracted attention.In this study, a total 33 samples, including 27 aerosol samples and 6 mural painting were collected from different sites Xu Xianxiu's Tomb analyzed using culture-dependent methods. We compared diversities culturable bacteria fungi isolated air explored potential impacts microorganisms biodeterioration murals.Phylogenetic analyses revealed that belonged Bacillus, Microbacterium, Lysobacter Arthrobacter. And most fungal Penicillium, Cladosporium Aspergillus genera. The composition structure airborne outside tomb both significantly inside tomb. variation trends bacterial concentrations at sampling remarkably similar. Bacillus frigoritolerans, halotolerans, safensis, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum, Micrococcus yunnanensis species commonly environments. Fungal Alternaria alternata, cladosporioides, Penicillium brevicompactum, Peyronellaea glomerata. prediction ecological functions chemoheterotrophy or aerobic_chemoheterotrophy accounted for substantial relative proportions all sample types.These results suggest circulation between environments was weak environment had yet have an impact community Selective microorganisms, which is mediated by interaction special microenvironmental factors, important reason murals.