ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors focus on the bacterial population that occurs onto sandstone and marble monuments, where damage is induced by filamentous bacteria, since they are able to penetrate deeper into stone. They examine the applicability of the hybridisation techniques, using the digoxi-genin -non radiactive nucleic acid labelling and detection system, to reveal the presence of specific bacterial genomes in stone specimens. Bacterial colonization have been usually found in samples coming from different substrates, in which their presence was hypothesised and correlated to biodeterioration. Endolithic communities are more widespread than previously thought and their role in stone biodegradation has been underestimated. Concerning the biodegradation of sandstone monuments, the authors reported Nocardia restricta as particularly prevalent bacteria, detected by in vitro amplification technologies. Accessibility of genome data banks made possible the development of genetic and molecular approaches by which to examine microbial population in samples from complex environments.
