Published: 16.04.2026

Invitation to the lecture by Dr. Domenica Pangalla

 

The Faculty of Natural Sciences of the UCM in Trnava cordially invites all interested parties to a lecture within the Science at the CenTTer cycle by an important expert in the field of environmental microbiology and cultural heritage protection, Dr. Domenica Pangalla, DrSc.

 

Day:  4/21/2026 at 6:00 p.m.

Place: Trnavská viecha, Michalská 10, (North tower, ground floor)Trnava

Lecturer: Dr. Domenico Pangallo, DrSc. from ÚBB FPV UCM in Trnava.

Topic of the lecture: When microbes rewrite history.

 

When microbes destroy... they also save

The lecture entitled "When microbes rewrite history" will introduce the fascinating, but often overlooked world of microorganisms that affect the state of our cultural monuments. Bacteria, fungi and algae represent a silent but persistent threat to historical objects, paintings, books and architectural heritage. They gradually break down materials such as stone, wood, canvas or paper, causing irreversible damage to valuable artefacts.

However, scientists use both modern and traditional approaches to combat these processes. In addition to the classic laboratory cultivation of microorganisms, advanced DNA analyzes are increasingly being used, which allow the detection of entire microbial communities - including species that cannot be grown in laboratory conditions.

It is interesting that some microorganisms may not only be pests. On the contrary, they can become valuable helpers during restoration. They produce enzymes that can gently remove dirt, synthetic polymers, adhesives or even graffiti without damaging the original material. This approach, known as biocleaning, represents an ecological alternative to classical chemical methods and is already being used today in the restoration of works of art.

Lecturer

dr. Domenico Pangallo, DrSc., works at the UCM Faculty of Natural Sciences in Trnava, where he lectures on environmental microbiology. At the same time, he is the head of the Department of Microbial Ecology at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava.

He began his scientific career by studying molecular biology at the University of Messina (Italy), followed by doctoral studies at the Comenius University in Bratislava and a research stay at the University of Vienna.

In his research, he has long been devoted to the biodeterioration of historical materials and connects microbiology with the protection of cultural heritage. With his team, he investigates microbial communities on different types of historical objects - from wall paintings, wood and paper to textiles, photographs and mummies.

dr. Pangallo cooperates with several prestigious European institutions, such as the Natural History Museum in London, the Italian CNR or universities in Spain and Portugal. His work significantly contributes to the development of biodeterioration research and the protection of cultural heritage.

Don't hesitate to come see how the microscopic world affects our history - and how we can use it for the benefit of its preservation.