Potencialidades biodeteriorantes y patogénicas de hongos anemófilos ambientales frecuentes en ambiente de archivos y museos cubanos

Abstract

Fungi in institutions of heritage interest are a serious problem for the conservation of collections. In research related to this subject, the contaminating mycobiota has been studied from a quantitative and qualitative point of view. Only a few studies of physiological characterization of fungal pests in archives and museums have been performed. The aim was to evaluate biodeteriogenic and pathogenic potential in strains of environmental fungi corresponding to taxa frequently isolated in Cuban heritage institutions. The cellulolytic, amylolytic and proteolytic activity of the strains was determined semi-quantitatively; as well as the production of organic acids and pigments. The ability to grow at 37 °C was evaluated, in addition to the secretion of exoenzymes hemolysins and phospholipases. All evaluated strains showed at least one biodeteriorating attribute, while 92 % showed pathogenic attributes. In relation to the above, the most dangerous strains are those belonging to the genus Aspergillus and Penicillium including the species: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. phoenicis, Penicillium citrinum and P. janczewskii. These studies provide valuable information about the characteristics of the environmental mycobiota of these ecosystems, facilitate the development of preventive conservation plans for collections, help to clarify the phenomenology of biodeterioration of materials and contribute to the prevention of occupational diseases.