RNA-FISH for investigating Cultural Heritage Microbiology- Autofluorescence of the materials and fluorophores selection.

Abstract

This work was focused on: i) the investigation of the autofluorescence of various materials that are found forming part of Cultural Heritage objects (parchment, paper, wood, fabric, rock, mortar and plastic among others) by epifluorescence microscopy using fluorescence flter sets targeted at commonly used fluorophores (TRITC/CY5/6-FAM); ii) the detection of RNA-FISH stained microbial cells on the selected materials or in the presence of residual particles.