Background: Caves are unique natural features and habitats where specialized organisms grow. One of the world's main concerta is that of the conservation and preservation of our cultural heritage, including rock art and wall paintings within caves.

Methoda: This study was conducted by collecting the samples scraped from wall surfaces at 19 different location in painted caves of Niah cave, Sarawak, and Tempurung cave, Perak. Morphospecies identification and genomic DNA polymorphisms were used to identify the two strains of bacteria. The growth was controlled chemical method using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCi), Calcium hypochlorite Ca(OCI)k and hydrogen peroxide (H,O.).

Results: Morphospecies identification was carried out using a light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEMi, both the bacteria, bacteria I and bacteria II were isolated from the soil samples and were Gram-negative bacteria. Based on BLAST seareh, bacteria I showed 100% with Stenotrophomonas sp (NR 024708.1), and bacteria Il showed 100% with Cryptococcus figuefasens (NR 043289. 1). The growth was controlled chemical method using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI), Calcium hypochlorite Ca/OCt and hydrogen peroxide (HOy). The laboratory studies showed that three chemical were effectively eliminated colonies/cells of the both bacteria compared to the colonies found on the control pate this study.

Keywords: - Niah cave, Tempurung cave, Stenotrophomonas sp, Cryptococcus liquefaciens.

ARSTRACT

Caves

ArE

natural features and habitats where specialized organists

grow. One of the world's main concerns is that of the conservation and preservation of our culturail heritage, inclading rock art and wall paintings within caves. This study was conducted by collecting the samples scraped from wall surfaces at 19 different locations in painted caves of Niah, Sarawak, and Tempurung. Perak. Phenotypic characterization was used to identify the strains of cyanobacteria. Morphospecies identification was cared out wing a light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microflora from both sampling locations was represented by three cyanobacteria morphospecies, Synechococcus sp. (18.78%), Glococapsa aeraginosa (12.20%), Chroococcus minor (4.94%) The photomicrographs of all the dominant microalgas recorded Unialgal cultures were established for Synechococcus sp. for further studies, because this species was abundant in the samples, Snechococcus sp. a cylindrical oblong elliptical unicellular or sometimes 2 to 4 cells us a result of cell division. Under SEM Synechococcur sp. cells were cylindrical to oblong 26 jun in diameter and 3.8m long. The cells were enclosed in hyaline macilage and with cells usually aggregating in large numbers to form colonies. The growth was controlled chemical method using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI), calcium hypochlorite (Ca (OCDs) and hydrogen peroxide (1,0,). The laboratory studies showed that the usatment with 5% 110,, CalOCT and NaOCt gave a significant differcace (ps0 05) on the growth

of Synechococcus sp. However, the effect of 15%

H2O2 was not significantly different (P>0.05) with Ca(OCI)2 and NaOCI at 10, 15, and 30 minutes exposure, only 5 minutes exposure was significant (pS0.05).

Keywords: Niah cave, Tempurung cave, cyanobacteria, Synechococcus, NaOCI,

H202, Ca(OCI)2..

Abstract. The growth of lampenflora detracts the natural beauty of cave walls, and threatens their archaeological value.

This is a real problem in Malaysian caves, therefore, an attempt should be made to eliminate these unwanted microorganisms. Ultraviolet light destroys harmful microbes such as bacteria, yeast. molds, viruses and algae, and ultraviolet radiation is less toxic to cave dwellers such as birds, reptiles and visitors. So ultraviolet radiation can be a way to control microorganisms or reduce their numbers. In this study. we studied the effect of ultraviolet radiation on microorganisms isolated from selected Malaysian caves to control and eliminate them AlterS minutes exposure, 254mm UV-C effectively eliminated colonies of Pseudomonas aerginosa and Stenotrophomonas sp. But P. guilliermondi and

R. dairenensis were eliminated to the zero after 30 mivutes of treatment, but C. Liquefaciens needed 60 minutes to be treated. Synechochococcus sp and Micractinium sp. fell to zero after exposure to 240 of UV-C