Biofilms and Their Relevance in Cultural Heritage and Building Materials: Trends, Challenges and New Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Historic and non-historic buildings and stone monuments that compose our Cultural Heritage and our built patrimony are prone to colonization by different microorganisms (algae, cyanobacteria, fungi, bacteria) growing in the form of biofilms. These are considered highly metabolic and complex systems where microorganisms’ interactions with each other can help them deal with adverse environmental conditions, such as high UV radiation, desiccation, and extreme weather fluctuations. Although the role of microorganisms’ biofilms as bioprotective or biodeteriorative is still open for debate, once successfully adhered to stone monuments, artworks, and building materials, microorganisms can then have the chance to alter their properties. These changes may appear as merely aesthetic, with biofilms of plenty of colors growing epilithically, and/or may be induced by mechanical, physical and biogeochemical actions. Understanding the microbial composition of biofilms, how they interact with stone, wood and other building or supporting materials, and their modes of action are crucial for the development of control and preventive measures to protect our Cultural Heritage and our built patrimony. In recent decades, innovative methods and application of new treatments to control biofilm proliferation have also pave their way in the field of Cultural Heritage, ranging from nanotechnologies to the use of more eco-friendly and natural compounds. This Special Issue will focus on building and artwork biofilms, with relevance being given to studies of diversity and biodeterioration, bioreceptivity, as well as new control and preventive methods to control their proliferation on such materials (stone, concrete, ceramics, tiles, wood). Furthermore, the implications of the climate changes scenario on biofilm development are also welcomed in this Special Issue, as understanding how biofilms are shaped in this scenario is crucial for the preservation of cultural heritage and building materials worldwide in the near future.

Dr. António Manuel Santos Carriço Portugal
Dr. Fabiana Soares
Guest Editors

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• biofouling
• cultural heritage
• art
• biodeterioration
• bioreceptivity
• building materials
• conservation
• restoration
• new treatments
• challenges
• climate changes