Microbiota colonizing manuscripts (flax, parchment and leather binding) within the Coptic Museum, Cairo, are bacteria (Staphyloccus aureus; Bacillus pumilus; Bacillus subtilis; Bacillus firmus; Pseudomonas sp., Micrococcus sp.), fungi (Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terrus, Aspergillus flavus, Acremonium vitis, Botrytis cenera., Fusarium sp., Geotrichum spp., Mucor spp, Stachyliduim spp., Stachybotrys chartarum and Trichoderma spp.).

The investigated manuscripts were stained with yellow and red stains. The isolated microorganisms produced pigments on synthetic media, and FTIR spectra of these produced pigments proved that are of carotenoid. Moreover, the isolated fungi and bacteria are cellulease and collagenase enzyme producers; these enzymes could decompose carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) into short chains of free mono sugars and decompose collagen (animal glue) into free amino acids and ammonia as end product.