Optimization of Culture Media for Enhanced Chitinase Production from a Novel Strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Using Response Surface Methodology

Chitinase is one of the most important mycolytic enzymes with industrial significance. This enzyme is produced by a number of organisms including bacteria. In this study, we describe the optimization of media components with increased production of chitinase for the selected bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, isolated from soil. Different components of the defined media responsible for influencing chitinase secretion by the bacterial isolate were screened using Plackett-Burman experimental design and were further optimized by Box-Behnken factorial design of response surface methodology in liquid culture. Maximum chitinase production was predicted in medium containing 4.94 g/l chitin, 5.56 g/l maltose, 0.62 g/l yeast extract, 1.33 g/l $KH_2PO_4$, and 0.65 g/l $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ using response surface plots and the point prediction tool of the DESIGN EXPERT 7.1.6 (Stat-Ease, USA) software.