Fabiana Soares

• PhD
• University of Coimbra

Carrageenans extracted from Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus were studied in order to determine their potential antifungal activity. FTIR-ATR and FT-Raman spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of a hybrid kappa/iota carrageenan belonging to the gametophyte phase and a hybrid xi/theta carrageenan in the tetrasporophyte phase. Kappa/iot...

In 2013, UNESCO classified the ‘University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia’ (Portugal) as World Heritage site. Some of the limestone monuments that compose the site, such as the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, show clear visual effects of biological colonization by cyanobacteria and microalgae. The aim of this study was to thoroughly characterize the structu...

Microbial proliferation and the action of environmental microbiomes in subaerial biofilms (SABs) can contribute to cultural heritage stone biodeterioration, posing serious challenges for monument conservation. In this study, we present the first on-site direct Whole Genome Sequencing analysis of SABs thriving in a UNESCO World Heritage Site stone m...

During the ongoing studies designed to examine the fungal diversity present within the abandoned and flooded Escádia Grande gold mine (Góis, Portugal), we repeatedly isolated several specimens belonging to a Penicillium species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, coupled with morphological observations, positioned this fungus within subgen. Penicilli...

Sunflower is a short-season crop of the Asteraceae family and the Helianthus genus and is the fourth most important oilseed crop in the world. During a field campaign, unusual symptoms (necrosis and longitudinal cracking of the petiole) were observed in a sunflower crop grown in the region of Kavarna (Dobrich district, Bulgaria) and strains of the...

The present work provides an updated overview of the application of the Oxford Nanopore® MinION™ sequencer in cultural heritage biodeterioration studies, while also providing a holistic discussion of possible future perspectives for their utilization in this research field. Due to the peculiar characteristics of this device, the last few years have...

The present work offers a contemporary synthesis of the application of the Oxford Nanopore® MinION™ within the context of cultural heritage biodeterioration investigations, while also providing a comprehensive discussion of possible future perspectives for their utilization in this research field. Owing to the distinctive characteristics of this de...

Microbial communities are known to contribute deeply to geochemical cycles, including weathering, protection from erosion and mineral precipitation. Studies aiming to understand mining areas’ microbiomes are of high relevance since they can help pinpoint the occurrence of environmental shifts, key bioremediation species, environmental metals recove...

Phototrophic organisms, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, are known to be major contributors to stone decay. The purpose of this study was to assess the dolomitic limestone colonization by phototrophic organisms, using single vs artificial multispecies, under laboratory conditions. To achieve this aim, dolomitic limestone blocks were inoculated...

Caves are oligotrophic environments, characterized by constant temperatures, high humidity and low natural light. However, microbial shifts can still happen in such environments, especially with the increase in tourist activity and implementation of artificial lights, making caves even more susceptible to environmental changes. As a result, prolife...

Stone monuments and relics are prone to biodeterioration processes prompted by microbial proliferation and activity. Among the distinct microbes capable of stone colonization, fungi are known to strongly contribute to stone biodeterioration. During the ongoing efforts aiming to study fungi thriving in dolomitic limestone walls of the Coimbra’s hypo...

Synechococcales is a large cyanobacterial order comprising both unicellular and filamentous forms, with parietal thylakoid arrangement. In the past years, this order has been the subject of taxonomic revisions with new families being erected. During studies of the phototrophic communities on the limestone walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (UNES...

The microbiota present in public buildings—fungal, algae, and fungi that thrive in buildings and in their construction materials—influence the structural condition as well as, potentially, the health of those who live, work, or visit them. These organisms can colonize and deteriorate all kinds of construction materials such as stone, wood, bricks,...

Fungi are one of the main agents of stone biodeterioration worldwide, since they strongly interfere with its integrity, aesthetical and structural natural properties. During an experimental survey aimed to isolate fungal species contributing to the biodeterioration of the limestone walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Portuguese unesco World Heri...

Stone biodeterioration by cyanobacteria is a common issue in the field of cultural heritage. As they are considered the first stone colonizers, the need to control their growth has increased. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of kappa/iota carrageenans from the red seaweed Chondracanthus teedei var. lusitanicus against the limestone pro...

In Iran, polyphasic studies of unicellular cyanobacteria are still scarce, with more emphasis being placed on filamentous cyanobacteria in paddy fields and fresh water regions. In an effort to increase the knowledge of the diversity of unicellular cyanobacteria from paddy fields in Iran, we have isolated and characterized a new unicellular cyanobac...

Fungal deteriorative action on historical stone objects often leads to important and incalculable cultural heritage losses. The Ançã stone is a unique limestone type widely used in some of the most important and emblematic Portuguese monuments. Being a soft and porous calcium carbonate limestone, this substrate is known to have a significant biorec...

The “University of Coimbra-Alta and Sofia” area was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site distinction in 2013. The Old Cathedral of Coimbra, a 12th-century limestone monument located in this area, has been significantly impacted during the last 800 years by physical, chemical, and biological processes. This led to the significant deterioration of...

In a study that aimed to fingerprint the phototrophic community of the biodeteriorated walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (UNESCO World Heritage Site), an unknown Nostoc/Komarekiella-like cyanobacterium was isolated. We employed a polyphasic approach based on morphological, ecological and phylogenetic analyses of the partial 16S and the whole 16...

The recently described species Myxacorys almedinensis and two other cyanobacteria were isolated from the limestone walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, Portugal (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The high-quality genome sequences presented here will be essential for characterization purposes and description of the novel taxa.

During the ongoing characterization of limestone biodeterioration in the UNESCO World Heritage site of “University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia” (Coimbra, Portugal), it was brought to our attention that the limestone relieves adorning the tomb of D. Afonso I (First Portuguese King), displayed several signs of distinctive biodeterioration patterns. A...

Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microorganisms able to colonize historic stone monuments, causing severe aesthetic, physical and chemical alterations to the substrate. In a study that aimed to fingerprint the phototrophic community of the biodeteriorated walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (UNESCO World Heritage Site), an unknown Myxacorys-lik...

Fungi are powerful biodeteriogens and when colonizing stone monuments are often responsible for severe physical, chemical and aesthetical modifications. Recently the old cathedral of Coimbra (Portugal) was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site distinction as an integrant part of the “University of Coimbra- Alta and Sofia” area. The limestone walls...

Aeminium ludgeri is an extremotolerant microcolonial black fungus isolated from a biodeteriorated limestone art piece in the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, Portugal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The high-quality draft genome sequence of Aeminium ludgeri presented here represents the first sequenced genome for both the recently described fungal family...

When colonizing stone monuments, microcolonial black fungi are considered one of the most severe and resistant groups of biodeteriorating organisms, posing a very difficult challenge to conservators and biologists working with cultural heritage preservation. During an experimental survey aimed to isolate fungi from a biodeteriorated limestone art p...

Stone, one of the earliest testimonies of human artistic expression, is susceptible to biodeterioration by microorganisms. The most frequent stone colonizing agents are algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, fungi and lichens, each with their own set of adaptive traits, which allow them to prosper and consequently damage the stone substrate. Limestone is...

Seaweeds have been utilized by mankind for several hundreds of years, directly for food, medicinal purposes, and agriculture fertilizers. Today, seaweed is used in many countries for very different purposes: directly as food; as a source of phycocolloid extraction; for extraction of compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, or antitumor activity; an...

Seaweeds have been utilized by mankind for several hundreds of years, directly for food, medicinal purposes, and agriculture fertilizers. Today, seaweed is used in many countries for very different purposes: directly as food; as a source of phycocolloid extraction; for extraction of compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, or antitumor activity; an...

In the past decades, the taxonomic significance of the polysaccharide structures of algal cell walls has been studied, leading towards the discovery of many changes in red algal systematics, through the biochemical analyses of its phycocolloids. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy - Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRIFTS), Attenuated Total Re...

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