Applied microbiology: a tool for the conservation of Cultural Heritage

The biodeterioration of Cultural Heritage, is one of the most important damage processes occurring in tropical climates, characterized by high humidity and temperatures which favours biological colonization, growth and development of different living organisms on Cultural Heritage. The organisms include fungi and insects by their ubiquity, physiology and dispersion media. This paper present the results of direct and environmental microbiological samples taken at different museums in Havana, Cuba. Air fungal concentration were detected in correlation with relative humidity. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium, were the predominant fungal genera in indoor air and the different substrates tested. Its physiological potential represents a high micobiodeterioration risk. The conducted studies allowed establishing efficient preventive policies in order to extend the existent of these particular Cuban cultural assets.