FUNGAL DEGRADATION OF CELLULOSIC MATERIALS USED AS SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE

NITIU, D.S; ELÍADES, L.; SAPARRAT, M.; MALLO, A.C

International Journal of Conservation Science

FIR IASI Romania

Año: 2017 vol. 8 p. 619 - 632

2067-533X

A great part of the cultural heritage of humanity available in museums and libraries is storedin paper. However, this main support used from early civilization times is a biomaterialsusceptible to deterioration by fungal transformation. Two fungal phenomena, cellulosedegradation and synthesis of secondary metabolites, are responsible for paper deterioration.Thus, the understanding of fungal deterioration pathways is key to improve the durability ofthe cultural heritage in paper and develop new and adequate sustainable strategies ofrestoration. This review gives an approach about the current knowledge of cellulosetransformation by fungi associated with paper and the mechanisms involved. Since severalmetabolites derived from fungi growing on paper, such as pigments, can deteriorate invaluablecultural heritage, knowledge on these metabolites is also fundamental to improve conservationstrategies of historical documents.