Connecting phenome to genome in Pseudomonas stutzeri 5190: an artwork biocleaning bacterium

Research on biotechnology applications for cultural heritage restoration has shown how microorganisms can be efficient at cleaning particularly complex or ingrained substances through the process called “biocleaning”. Bacteria are able to synthesize groups of specific enzymes for the degradation of complex materials present on artwork. Biocleaning has been shown to be less hazardous than some traditional mechanical or chemical techniques for the artwork, to be environmentally-friendly and safe for restorers to use. In order to improve our knowledge of the metabolic mechanisms involved in biocleaning, we analyzed the relationship between the genome and phenome of Pseudomonas stutzeri 5190 in order to identify and confirm the benefits and drawbacks of this bacterium used on on-site artwork as a biocleaning agent. Main phenotype microarray (PM) assays showed that P. stutzeri 5190 was able to use: i) 51 of the 190 carbon sources tested, where 32 were used efficiently, among which there were six amino acids (L-proline, L-alanine, D-alanine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine and L-glutamine); ii) 74 of the 95 nitrogen sources tested, where 50 compounds were used efficiently, among which were 28 amino acids and the inorganic nitrate and nitrite compounds, supporting the hypothesis of the strain's ability to remove nitrate salt efflorescence from frescoes. Furthermore, high tolerance to osmotic stress, to basic pH and to toxic compounds was revealed by PM. Putative genes compatible with these phenotypes are described.