A.S.M. SAIYEM, FERDAUSI ALI AND M.N. ANWAR
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to isolate keratinolytic bacteria from the soil samples collected from poultry farm yard and dumping site of poultry waste areas in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Total eighteen bacteria were isolated from samples based on their keratinolytic activity when cultured on feather meal liquid medium and subsequently on feather meal agar medium. Among the bacterial isolates, two isolates showed the highest keratinolytic activity and were identified as Bacillus spp (Bacillus brevis and Bacillus cereus) by microscopic and biochemical experiments. In case of Bacillus brevis, the best enzyme activity was observed at pH 7 and temperature 37ºC with 4 days incubation period, whereas Bacillus cereus showed maximum enzyme production at 37ºC and favours alkaline condition (pH 8) with 4 days incubation period. Complete degradation of chicken feather in liquid medium was observed by the isolates itself after 3 days of incubation.