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Characterization of the archaeal and fungal diversity associated with gypsum efflorescences on the walls of the decorated Sorcerer’s prehistoric cave

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Abstract

Purpose

This study focuses on analysis of the archaeal and fungal diversity associated with gypsum efflorescences damaging the walls of the Sorcerer’s prehistoric cave registered as a world cultural heritage site.

Method

Archaeal 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) clone libraries were constructed and analysed.

Results

Two thaumarchaeotal OTUs belonging to the Nitrososphaeraceae family dominated the archaeal community (100% of clones). Nitrososphaeraceae are obligate aerobic, chemolithoautotrophic organisms that derive their energy from the oxidation of ammonia and may contribute to primary productivity in the cave. Seven fungal OTUs belonging to Ascomycota and one belonging to Basidiomycota were present. The Cordycipitaceae family, mainly represented by entomophilous fungi, dominated the analysis (66.7% of clones).

Conclusion

We show that archaeal and fungal OTUs are associated with gypsum efflorescences damaging the walls of the Sorcerer’s cave. The role of these microorganisms in the deterioration of the walls of the cave remains to be determined.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jean-Max Touron (owner of the Sorcerer’s Cave) and Jean-Christophe Portais, who allowed us access and sample the cave. We thank Alexandre François and Mareva Sandou for the technical assistance. The final manuscript has been improved by BioMedES UK (www.biomedes.biz).

Funding

This study was funded, in part, by a grant from the Labex Patrima and by a financial support of the “Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication”. This work was supported by the French minister of culture and communication and by the foundation PATRIMA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Cergy-Pontoise – ERRMECe-EA1391 – Site de Neuville-sur-Oise, 1 rue Descartes, 95000, Neuville-sur-Oise Cedex, France

    Agnès Mihajlovski, Clémentine Lepinay, Anne-Laure Mirval & Patrick Di Martino

  2. Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC-USR 3224), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, 29 Rue de Paris, 77420, Champs-sur-Marne, France

    Stéphanie Touron & Faisl Bousta

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  1. Agnès Mihajlovski
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  2. Clémentine Lepinay
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  3. Anne-Laure Mirval
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Correspondence to Agnès Mihajlovski.

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Mihajlovski, A., Lepinay, C., Mirval, AL. et al. Characterization of the archaeal and fungal diversity associated with gypsum efflorescences on the walls of the decorated Sorcerer’s prehistoric cave. Ann Microbiol 69, 1071–1078 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-019-01506-2

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