Isolation, identification and screening of keratinase producing bacteria from soil

ABSTRACT

The aim of the current study was isolation and identification of keratin degrading bacteria. Due to vast
increase in poultry industry business an enormous compost waste is being generated everyday amongst
which feathers are most important ingredient factor which could be utilized. Two soil samples were
collected from area of poultry slaughtering houses from jauharabad district khushab. The isolation was
performed by sample suspension and spread plate method processed on nutrient agar medium and
twenty keratin degrading bacterial strains were isolated. Out of this diversity, seven isolates produced
dramatic zones of clearance on skim milk agar plates and showed keratinolytic activity. Maximum
keratinase specific activity was observed in (FD2 strain) which was selected for further studies. Cultural
parameters such as pH, incubation time, and inoculum size and substrate concentration were optimized
for maximum keratinase production. The isolated strain showed maximum keratinase activity and
soluble protein concentration at pH 7 at 1% inoculum size and 1g substrate concentration for 72hrs.
Molecular identification was done by 16s rRNA technology sequence shown isolate as Bacillus cereus
with accession number MG 952538. Isolation and identification of keratinase need to be done to assess
the industrial application of the isolate.