To protect materials against biodeterioration, physical, biological or chemical methods can be used. Chemical inhibitors of biodeterioration are the most common and effective. A new class of chemical inhibitors-gemini alkylammonium salts-shows excellent biocidal properties and good ecological profile. These compounds can be applied as biodeterioration inhibitors in a wide variety of materials.

Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provide a new and original approach to analyzing changes in patterns of colonization (Biodeterioration patterns, BPs) by biological agents responsible for the deterioration of outdoor stone materials. Here we analyzed BPs of four Khmer temples in Angkor (Cambodia) exposed to variable environmental condit...

Fungal biodeterioration of artworks on paper and historic documents results from complex interactions of heterogenous cellular materials with living systems. The biodeterioration of paper is manifested by prominent staining and structural polymer degradation of paper by fungal enzymatic activities. Pigmentation produced by fungi results from their complex bio-chemical processed within their cel...

Natural products obtained from plants with biocidal activity represent an alternative and useful source in the control of biodeterioration of documentary heritage, without negative environmental and human impacts. In this work, we studied the antimicrobial activity of seven essential oils against microorganisms associated with the biodeterioration of documentary heritage. The essential oils wer...

The 13th International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Symposium (IBBS) will be the first to be held without Prof. Harold W. Rossmoore. Beginning with the first symposium, in Southampton, UK in 1968, his presence has been felt at every single meeting. He even participated in a meeting, held in London, UK in 1965, that is considered to be the starting point for the International Biodeteriora...

Biodeterioration of poultry feed by fungal load due to improper storage is a major concern. The present investigation was carried out to determine the effect of relative humidity (RH) on biodeterioration of poultry feed, biochemical changes and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by Penicillium species examined during September 2009 to July 2010. All the relative humidities studied were supported 16 ...

The mosaics from rhe Roman remains ollralica. which was lounded in 206 Be near presenr·day Seville. are rhrearened by rhe raval(es ol narure rhar are desrroyinl( rhese masrerpieces from rhe second cenrury AD. Since rhe heginninl( ofrhis century. rhe exposure ofmosr olrhe mosaics a.fier excavarion has resulred in colonizarion by pioneering species ol lichens and mosses. as well as by subsequent ...