Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Parisa Mohammadi ¹
• Mahnaz Gholipour Shahraki ²
• Azam Aliasghari Veshareh ³
• Ezat Asgarani ⁴
• Neda Shoaei ⁵
• Zahra Falahi ⁶

¹ Alzahra University

² Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran

⁵ Faculty of Biological Sciences, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran

⁶ , Faculty of Biological Sciences, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

With the passage of time, unique old architectures and historical buildings are exposed to physicochemical and biological deteriorations and the dimensions of these damages differ depending on the geographical location, the amount of environmental pollution, the composition of raw materials and its constituent elements. Various agents such as fungi, bacteria, archaea, algae and lichens are involved in biodeterioration. Considering the importance of biological studies in cultural heritage, as well as the construction of Sivand dam and ecosystem changes in the region, deteriogenic bacteria of the stone monument of Cyrus the Great tomb were investigated. It seems that the limestone stones of Cyrus the Great tomb in Pasargadae region of Fars province have provided suitable substrates for the establishment and growth of bacteria. For this purpose, samples were first taken from different parts of the tomb of Cyrus the Great by a non-destructive method using swabs and sterile needles, and were cultured into specific bacterial medium. After purifying the colonies, bacterial isolates were identified at the genus level by morphological, microscopic, biochemical and enzymatic methods. In order to more accurately identify bacterial isolates, molecular methods of 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used. The culture results revealed the presence of different species of bacteria. Most of the identified genera were gram-positive bacteria,. In order to preserve such valuable works, in the next step, we assay ways of removing and controlling these harmful organisms and their effects, in laboratory conditions. Finally, these methods on stone models and in site will be investigated.

Keywords

• Pasargad
• Biodeterioration
• PCR
• Sivand Dam

Main Subjects

• Microbiology