Editorial: Microbes and cultural heritage: from biodiversity to applications

Abstract

Editorial on the Research Topic Microbes and cultural heritage: from biodiversity to applications. Cultural heritage (CH) objects are not inert witnesses of the past; they are dynamic ecological niches shaped by continuous interactions between materials, environmental conditions, and living microorganisms. Manuscripts, wooden artifacts, stone monuments, wall paintings, leather objects, and archaeological remains provide substrates for microbial colonization. These microorganisms can drive aesthetic alteration, material weakening, salt-mediated damage, enzymatic degradation, and pigment formation, threatening historical integrity. At the same time, they provide insights into biodiversity, ecological adaptation, and innovative conservation strategies. The Research Topic “Microbes and cultural heritage: from biodiversity to applications” brings together 11 contributions that collectively advance the field of heritage microbiology. Rather than focusing solely on descriptive surveys of microbial diversity, these studies integrate ecological perspectives with conservation science. By combining modern analytical approaches with material and environmental studies, the contributions demonstrate that understanding microbial biodiversity is essential not only for diagnosing biodeterioration processes but also for designing sustainable and informed preservation strategies. Taken together, the studies illustrate the ongoing transition of heritage microbiology from a descriptive discipline toward a more predictive and application-oriented field.