Study of Color Changing in Mural Paintings and Painting Layer as A Result of Actinomycetes (Actinobacteria) Metabolism Products and Method of Treatment and Restoration.

Abstract

This study treated the role of actinomycetes in color change of paintings in ancient Egyptian tombs. This thesis used molecular tools (PCR and 16S rDNA sequence in identification of isolated actinomycetes. Actinomycetes decomposed binding media of arabic gum into mono sugars such as arabinos, animal glue into amino acids in particular gultamic acid and ammonia as end product. Bees wax was decomposed into short chains of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular stearic acid. A dose 15 kGy of gamma irradiation was sufficient to kill most isolated actinomycetes, also exposure to DBD plasma for 8 mins at 3 mm reduced actinomycetes.