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Echoes of 1816: microbial footprints in heritage artifacts from Argentina’s museum of independence

Summary

Scientists studied bacteria living on historic artifacts at Argentina’s Independence Museum to understand how microbes damage precious heritage items. They found 49 different bacterial species on artifacts like 200-year-old photographs, wooden furniture, and textiles, discovering that each artifact hosts a unique microbial community. The study shows that understanding these bacteria is crucial for preserving cultural treasures and protecting museum workers from potential health risks caused by microbial exposure during artifact handling and conservation.

Background

Museums preserve invaluable cultural artifacts but these heritage items are susceptible to biodeterioration caused by microbial colonization. This study represents the first comprehensive microbiological investigation of bacteria inhabiting artifacts at Argentina’s Casa Histórica de la Independencia museum, a site of historical significance where Argentine independence was declared in 1816.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize cultivable bacteria colonizing heritage artifacts and architectural elements at the Casa Histórica de la Independencia museum. The objectives included identifying and classifying viable bacterial strains, determining taxa prevalence in relation to substrate types, assessing functional potential for biodegradation, and evaluating biohazards to inform conservation strategies.

Results

A total of 49 bacterial strains were isolated, predominantly Gram-positive genera including Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Kocuria. The 19th-century albumen print photograph yielded 21 strains with extremophilic genera such as Streptomyces and Caldibacillus thermoamylovorans. SEM revealed well-structured biofilms with complex three-dimensional architectures embedded in extracellular polymeric substances.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates a complex, substrate-specific microbial landscape across museum collections. Integration of microbiological data into conservation protocols is essential, as the presence of halophiles, human-associated bacteria, and biodeterioration-capable taxa indicates both intrinsic material properties and external contamination sources requiring targeted preservation strategies.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Descriptive Microbiological Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40708927, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1611832, PMCID: PMC12287039
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