• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1004-1014
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• 2013

Six nonpathogenic fungal strains isolated from alkaline soils of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Acremonium murorum, Aspergillus sidowii, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Neurospora tetrasperma, Purpureocillium lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus), and Westerdikella dispersa) were tested for their ability to produce keratinolytic enzymes. Strains were grown on feather meal agar as well as in solid-state and submerged cultures, using a basal mineral medium and "hair waste" as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. All the tested fungi grew on feather meal agar, but only three of them were capable of hydrolyzing keratin, producing clear zones. Among these strains, P. lilacinum produced the highest proteolytic and keratinolytic activities, both in solid-state and submerged fermentations. The medium composition and culture conditions for the keratinases production by P. lilacinum were optimized. Addition of glucose (5 g/l) and yeast extract (2.23 g/l) to the basal hair medium increased keratinases production. The optimum temperature and initial pH for the enzyme production were $28^{\circ}C$ and 6.0, respectively. A beneficial effect was observed when the original concentration of four metal ions, present in the basal mineral medium, was reduced up to 1:10. The maximum yield of the enzyme was 15.96 $U_c/ml$ in the optimal hair medium; this value was about 6.5-fold higher than the yield in the basal hair medium. These results suggest that keratinases from P. lilacinum can be useful for biotechnological purposes such as biodegradation (or bioconversion) of hair waste, leading to a reduction of the environmental pollution caused by leather technology with the concomitant production of proteolytic enzymes and protein hydrolyzates.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1095-1100
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• 2014

Keratin wastes are generated in excess of million tons per year worldwide and biodegradation of keratin by microorganisms possessing keratinase activity can be used as an alternative tool to prevent environmental pollution. For practical use of keratinase, its physicochemical properties should be investigated in detail. In this study, we investigated characteristics of keratinase produced by Xanthomonas sp. P5 which is isolated from rhizospheric soil of soybean. The level of keratinase produced by the strain P5 increased with time and reached its maximum (10.6 U/ml) at 3 days. The production of soluble protein had the same tendency as the production of keratinase. Optimal temperature and pH of keratinase were $40^{\circ}C-45^{\circ}C$ and pH 9, respectively. The enzyme showed broad temperature and pH stabilities. Thermostability profile showed that the enzyme retained 94.6%-100% of the original activity after 1 h treatment at $10^{\circ}C-40^{\circ}C$. After treatment for 1 h at pH 6-10, 89.2%-100% of the activity was remained. At pH 11, 71.6% of the original activity was retained after 1 h treatment. Although the strain P5 did not degrade human hair, it degraded duck feather and chicken feather. These results indicate that keratinase from Xanthomonas sp. P5 could be not only used to upgrade the nutritional value of feather hydrolysate but also useful in situ biodegradation of feather.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.247-251
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• 2015

In this study, a keratin-degrading bacterium was isolated from soil contaminated with feather waste. The isolated strain was identified as Chryseobacterium sp. P1-3 on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment. Chryseobacterium sp. P1-3 is currently used in various biotechnological applications (e.g., in the hydrolysis of poultry feathers). It hydrolyzed the feather meal within 2 days and possesses a high level of keratinase activity (98 U/mL). The keratinase, partially purified from this strain, prefers casein as a substrate and shows optimal activity at a temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and at a pH of 8.0.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.469-477
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• 2021

Keratin fibres are waste products of the poultry industry. Natural materials made from chicken feather fibres (CFFs) are used in concrete-reinforced composites in this study. Brittleness is a major problem of high-strength concrete (HSC) that leads to sudden failure at the ultimate capacity of concrete. Hence, this work aims to investigate effects of using CFFs on improving the brittle behaviour of HSC. Two scenarios are performed to analyse the effectiveness of using CFFs. HSC containing different ratios of CFF (0% as the control, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 3%) by volume are tested in the first scenario. Glass fibres (GF) are used to replace CFFs in the other scenario. Tests of fresh, hardened and morphological properties for concrete are performed. Results showed the enhanced brittle behaviour of HSC when using both types of fibres. The preferable ratio of both types of fibres is 1% by volume. Flexural and splitting tensile strengths increased by about 44.9 % and 42.65 % for mixes containing 0.1% GF, respectively. While they were increased by about 21.6 % and 21.16 % for mixes containing 0.1% CFF, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.612-619
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• 2015

We have synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using chicken feathers (poultry waste) and Bacillus subtilis RSE163. Disulfide reductase and keratinase produced by Bacillus subtilis during the degradation of chicken feather has been used to reduce Au³⁺ from HAuCl₄ precursor to produce gold nanoparticles. The synthesized biogenic GNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated the presence of protein capping on synthesized GNPs, imparting multifunctionality to the GNP surface. Furthermore, the nontoxic nature of biogenic GNPs was insured by interaction with Escherichia coli (ATCC11103), where TEM images and enhancement of growth rate of E. coli in log phase signified their nontoxic nature. The results indicate that the synthesis of biocompatible GNPs using poultry waste may find potential applications in drug delivery and sensing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1773-1775
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• 2002

Tannery waste contained 90.93% DM, 77.02% CP, 0.77% CF, 2.83% EE, 7.19% ash and 3,450 kcal ME/kg DM. A total of 144 day-old broiler chicks were divided into three dietary groups; $D_1$ (Containing 10% protein concentrate-PC), $D_2$ (Containing 5% PC+5% tannery waste-TW) and $D_3$ (Containing 10% TW) having 3 replicates of 16 chicks in each. The birds were fed broiler starter diet containing 22% CP, 3,000 kcal ME/kg and broiler finisher diet containing 21% CP, 3,100 kcal ME/kg up to 42 days of age, and meat yield traits were measured from the representative birds from each replication to asses the feasibility of using tannery waste in the diet of broiler. Feed intake, live weight, feed conversion efficiency and livability did not differ between diets (p>0.05) but the cost of production and profitability differed significantly (p<0.001). Profitability of D1, D2, and D3 diets were 2.98, 9.90 and 14.04 Taka/kg respectively. Diets did not affect on meat yield traits (p>0.05), except gizzard, shank and feather weight (p<0.01). Gizzard and shank weigh were improved with increasing level of tannery wastes in the diet, hence tannery waste can be used without any harmful effect in the broiler diet.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2022

Amongst 27 isolates from deteriorated leather samples, Arthrobacter creatinolyticus KP015744 zzx28 was found to be an efficient collagenase producer. Collagenase production of 13.33 µmoles/min was shown at an optimum temperature at 37℃ after 72h and at pH 7.5 by using 2 ml/dL inoculum in 10 mg/ml collagen peptide type I as a substrate. In presence of Hg²⁺, EDTA and 𝛽-mercaptoethanol the collagenase production by the isolate was strongly inhibited however Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺and DMSO enhanced production of the enzyme. Specific activity was found to be 19.46×10³ U/mg and molecular weight 66 kD by SDS PAGE. Isolate also has potential to hydrolyze keratin which is another important protein found in leather. Experimental results propose that collagenase can be effectively used as a tool for collagen and keratin rich solid waste treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.839-844
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• 2008

A strain SH-517 which produce extracellular keratinase, was isolated from the soil of a poultry waste and a poultry factory. An isolate SH-517 was identified as Bacillus sp. based on its morphological and biochemical characteristics. The optimal culture conditions for the production of keratinase by Bacillus sp. SH-517 were investigated. The optimal medium composition for keratinase production was determined to be 2.0% chicken feather as carbon source, 0.5% beef extract as organic nitrogen source, 0.5% $KNO_3$ as inorganic nitrogen source and 0.06% KCl, 0.05% NaCl, 0.04% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.03% $K_2HPO_4$ as mineral source and 0.01% yeast extract as growth factor. The optimal temperature and pH of medium were shown $40^{\circ}C$ and 8.5 with shaking culture (180 rpm/min), respectively. The maximum keratinase production reached maximum of 125 units/ml/min after 42 hr of cultivation under the optimal culturing conditions.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

The utilization of coatings composed of bio-based materials in the processing and preservation of meat presents an environmentally conscious, secure, cost-effective, and superior method for prolonging the storage life of meat while also preserving its nutritional value. In this study, changes in physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of freshly cut beef coated with distilled water (control) and keratin-starch composites (K-S) functionalized with 0.0-, 0.2-, 0.6-, and 1.0-mL avocado peel polyphenolic-rich extract (APPPE) kept at 4℃ for 12 days were evaluated periodically at 3-day interval using standard techniques. Keratin was extracted from waste feathers, while starch was obtained from ginger rhizomes. Following a 12-day storage period, beef coated with APPPE-enriched K-S composites exhibited a significant (p<0.05) improvement in shelf life by minimizing deteriorative changes in pH and color (as determined by metmyoglobin level) in addition to inhibiting oxidative changes in lipids (as determined by TBARS level) and proteins (protein carbonyl level) in comparison to control and K-S composite without APPPE. Furthermore, microbial growth was significantly (p<0.05) suppressed in meat coated with K-S composite functionalized with APE at 0.6 and 1.0 mL compared to the control. The study suggested that APPPE-enriched K-S composite could offer an eco-friendly and safe food preservation technique for fresh meat.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.304-312
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• 2024

This study was conducted to characterize strain Y10, isolated from discarded chicken feathers. Strain Y10 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens through phenotypic and 16S rRNA gene analysis. B. amyloliquefaciens Y10 exhibited plant growth-promoting activities, including the production of fungal cell-degrading enzymes (cellulase, lipase, protease, and pectinase), siderophores, ammonia, and indoleacetic acid. Furthermore, strain Y10 was able to inhibit the mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi. When 0.1% sucrose as a carbon source and 0.05% casein as a nitrogen source were added to the basal medium, adjusted to pH 10, and cultured at 35℃, the degradation rate of chicken feathers by strain Y10 was about two times higher than that of the basal medium, with the feathers almost completely degraded in four days. Strain Y10 also degraded various keratin substrates, including duck feathers, wool, and human nails. It was confirmed that the feather hydrolyzates prepared using strain Y10 exhibited antioxidant activities, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (EC₅₀ = 0.38 mg/ml) and superoxide dismutase-like activity (EC₅₀ = 183.7 mg/ml). These results suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens Y10 is a potential candidate for the development of bioinoculants and feed additives applicable to the agricultural and livestock industries, as well as the microbiological treatment of keratin waste.