Cellulolytic potential and filter paper activity of fungi isolated from ancients manuscripts from the Medina of Fez

The content of libraries in Fez is an important historical testimony and a treasure of knowledge of several civilizations. Unfortunately, this cultural heritage has suffered deterioration caused by many factors, including microbial deterioration specifically by cellulolytic fungi. The aim of our study was the identification and characterization of the microflora that damage historical manuscripts books from an old library of the Medina of Fez. A total of 31 filamentous fungi were isolated from deteriorated paper of ancient books. Nine of these isolates were screened positive for the ability to degrade carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The ability of the nine isolates to produce filter paper activity (FPUase) in liquid media as well as the effect of temperature and pH were also studied. According to the molecular identification, the most frequent species were Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor racemosus, and other less frequent, such as Hypocrea lixii, Aspergillus melleus and Schizophyllum commune were also present. Also, the effect of fungal contamination in paper artificially attacked for 18 months at 25 °C was examined. The fungal strains were able to degrade filter paper to varying degrees.