Abstract

Two fungal strains were isolated from a historical parchment manuscript found in Al-Azhar library, Egypt and were identified using the molecular technique 18S rRNA. New parchment samples (see 2.1) were placed on the surface of agar plates and inoculated with the two identified fungi and incubated at 30°C for 10, 20 and 30 days. The parchment samples were checked for degradation by measuring its mechanical properties (elongation and tensile strength), and ATR-FTIR analysis to identify structural changes induced in the collagen triple helix. SEM analysis was also carried out to investigate the change of surface morphology of bio-deteriorated collagen fibres. The colour changes in the fungaltreated parchment samples were also examined in order to determine the proteolytic activity caused by the tested fungal strains and their impact on the parchment properties. The results obtained revealed that Aspergillus fumigatus and Talaromyces spectabilis denature collagen as a result of their proteolytic activity, leading to loss of mechanical properties and the fibre network, so the parchment becomes brittle and discoloured.