Analysis of microbial biodeterioration on ancient books through a multidisciplinary approach

This study investigates the biodeterioration of ancient books and documents, constitute an important cultural heritage. These materials, derived from animal and plant sources, provide an adequate source of nutrients, where bacteria and fungi can thrive, causing the phenomenon of biodeterioration. The research focused on four ancient books titled "Compositionum" from the Apostolic Vatican Archive, composed of different matrices, showing different degree of deterioration. A multidisciplinary approach, including DNA metabarcoding (NGS), Light Transmission Analysis, RAMAN, and FTIR spectroscopy, was used to analyze books. The results revealed how the composition of biodeterioration communities shifted from the least to the most damaged areas, without significant microbial transfer between the different materials, confirming that ecological succession in all the matrices. These insights are crucial for improving conservation and restoration strategies for all types of materials.