Desenvolvimento de Ferramenta Analítica para deteção de Microganismos que proliferam no Património Cultural

Safeguard of tangible Cultural Heritage (CH) is utmost importance not only because it represents a unique and invaluable legacy crucial for the preservation of history for future generations, but also because it contributes to socio-economical development. Thus, the design of effective conservation, restoration, prevention and control strategies of tangible CH is crucial and challenging. The strategies developed until a few decades ago have completely neglected the contribution of microorganisms in the artworks decay. However, it has been proven that the action of these biological agents is a critical factor in this process that needs to be considered. Thus, unveiling the microorganisms involved in the biodeterioration process and their role has been considered a top priority for CH safeguard. To achieve this goal, multidisciplinary research efforts has been and continuous to be focused on the implementation of proper approaches for the analysis of CH assets. In the last decades much progress has been achieved by the introduction of several culture-based and culture-independent approaches to detect and ascertain the microbial communities colonising this objects. However, there is still much to be done. More advances in microbiology of CH are imperative to provide not only more in depth understanding for the expertise, but also to facilitate the design of proper remediation strategies, saving time and money, by turning the approaches simpler, faster and accessible for the end-users. 
Thus, MICROTECH-ART project is focused on the development of an easy analytical rapid tool based on FISH technique that fits these needs. It allows analysis of the microbial communities thriving artworks to be used by specialist and non-specialist in CH biodeterioration.
In 2014 our team group have developed two innovative approaches enhancing FISH potentialities that encourage MICROTECH-ART team to engage this project: i) a novel application of FISH in materials simulating CH assets surfaces for assessing the microflora present in CH; and ii) a new water-soluble coumarin fluorochrome development for labeling FISH probes.
On the basis of the foregoing, MICROTECH-ART represents an innovative and useful project for the progress of CH biodeterioration studies that will revolutionise the investigation in this field.