{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T18:10:40Z","timestamp":1788891040659,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788825600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Microbial degradation of cable insulation materials is a critical issue affecting the reliability of power systems. In this study, metagenomic analysis was employed to reveal the microbial community structure on contaminated substation cables, identifying\n                    <jats:italic>Curvularia lunata<\/jats:italic>\n                    as a dominant fungal species in high-voltage environments. Subsequently, a specific strain,\n                    <jats:italic>Curvularia lunata B3<\/jats:italic>\n                    , was isolated and identified for further investigation. To assess its specific impact on insulation performance, artificial inoculation experiments were conducted on secondary cable samples. Multi-dimensional characterization techniques, including SEM, WCA measurements, halogen moisture analysis, FTIR, XPS, and LCR digital bridge testing, were utilized to evaluate material degradation. The results demonstrated that\n                    <jats:italic>C. lunata<\/jats:italic>\n                    colonization caused significant surface erosion, characterized by the formation of holes and furrows. This physical damage was accompanied by a marked decrease in hydrophobicity, with the water contact angle dropping from 88.30\u2009\u00b1\u20090.79\u00b0 to 78.27\u2009\u00b1\u20091.27\u00b0, and a gradual increase in water content to approximately 1.2% over 60 days. Chemical analysis revealed that microbial activity induced oxidation and dechlorination of the PVC insulation, evidenced by the reduction of C-Cl bonds and the emergence of oxygen-containing functional groups. These physicochemical alterations significantly compromised the electrical insulation of the cables, as evidenced by a marked decrease in series resistance (Rs) and an increase in series capacitance (Cs). This study elucidates the mechanisms of fungal erosion on cable insulation and provides a scientific basis for developing targeted protective strategies in power systems.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0357774","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T17:55:42Z","timestamp":1788890142000},"page":"e0357774","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Curvularia lunata drives biodeterioration of PVC secondary cable insulation involving surface colonization, moisture retention and chemical deterioration"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Yimeng","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Biological Resource and Ecological Environment of Chinese Education Ministry, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]},{"name":"College of Life 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