BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM ROCK PAINTINGS OF MAGURA CAVE AND SENSITIVITY TO DIFFERENT BIOCIDES

Prehistoric cave paintings are a unique cultural heritage of considerable importance. This suggests that caves containing such paintings are of a great interest for visitors and attract considerable cultural and political attention. For this reason their preservation is a priority. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the bacterial colonization on the drawings in Magura cave and to identify the dominant species of bacteria. The sensitivity of bio destroyers to different biocides was also tested. On the basis of classical and molecular taxonomy eight genera - Bacillus, Serratia, Enterobacter, Sphingobacterium, Pantoea, Enterococcus, Raultella and Pseudomonas were identified. Three bactericides - tymol, Cu2+ and Ag+ at different concentrations were tested against the bacteria from the genera mentioned. The results obtained may be helpful in the choice of possible intervention for the prevention of biological degradation of this unique cultural heritage.