Review Paper:
Microbial Decomposition
of Feather Waste
D costa Nelson Anton and Mridul Umesh
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 17(1); 179-189;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1701rjbt179189; (2022)
Abstract
Keratin is generally found as an α-keratin helix form in hair, nails, horns and
β-keratin sheet form found in feathers, scales, beaks and claws. β-keratin contains
a domain rich in residues favoring to form β-sheet structures associated with the
filament framework. ‘N’ and ‘C’ terminal domains are associated with the matrix
and forms cross-linking via disulfide bonds. Several million tons of feather waste
are generated by poultry industries each year.
Since this waste is rich in protein, it contains excellent potential as a protein
source for animal feed and other applications.Bacterial and fungal strains used
in microbial degradation of feathers are summarized. Various species from the bacterium
genus are involved in keratin degradation including Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas,
Pseudomonas, Brevibacillus, Fusarium, Geobacillus, Chryseobacterium, Xanthomonas
and Serratia which are some keratin degrading bacteria. Actinomycetes and fungi
also contribute to feather degradation by the enzyme activity of keratinases.
