Real-time PCR detection of Ochroconis lascauxensis involved in the formation of black stains in the Lascaux Cave, France

Abstract

A real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect and quantify Ochroconis lascauxensis in the Lascaux Cave in France. This fungus is the principal causal agent of the black stains threatening the Paleolithic paintings of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The black stains outbreak could not be stopped in spite of using intensive biocide treatments. A sensitive and time-saving protocol is needed for determining the extent of the colonization. Sets of primers that target the ITS and RPB2 regions were designed and evaluated for specificity against O. lascauxensis. Genomic DNA extracted from five species of Ochroconis and 13 other fungal species frequently isolated from caves were used to test the specificity of each primer set. The specific and sensitive real-time PCR assay using the primers 347F/493R targeting a 147-bp fragment from the RPB2 gene was useful for quantifying the presence of O. lascauxensis in the stains on the walls, sediments and air of the cavity. The results confirmed the association of this fungus with the black stains and its wide dissemination in all cave compartments. The suitability of this method for monitoring fungal outbreaks in cave environments is discussed.