Behind the scenes: metagenomic analysis of bacterial communities in sustainable depilation of sheepskin.

Abstract

The leather industry is embracing eco-friendly technologies for both regulatory compliance and sustainable growth. While enzymatic depilation provides a greener alternative to traditional beamhouse methods, its complexity often leads to higher costs. To address this, we examined the performance of sheepskins' native bacterial flora in acetic acid conditions with low-environmental impact. Utilizing metagenomic techniques, we analyzed the bacterial community dynamics during the depilation process. This investigation revealed a notable increase in microbial diversity and richness in acetic acid treatments compared to water treatments. At the class level, a post-processing decrease in Gammaproteobacteria dominance was observed, while Actinomycetia numbers surged in the acetic acid group. In contrast, the water group showed an increase in Bacteroidia. Order-level analysis indicated reductions in Pseudomonadales and increases in Actinomycetales with acetic acid treatment, whereas Flavobacteriales was more prevalent in water-treated liquors. At the family level, Moraxellaceae decreased and Micrococcaceae increased in the acetic acid group, in contrast to the marked rise of Weeksellaceae in the water group. Temporal analyses further highlighted the evolving bacterial landscapes under different treatments. Moreover, acetic acid treatment fostered a stable microbial community, beneficial for sustainable leather processing. Functional pathways were predicted using PICRUSt2. It showed that significantly enriched degradation pathways in the water group were less abundant in the acetic acid group, potentially preventing substrate matrix damage during depilation. The study underscores the transformative potential of acetic acid for the leather industry, offering a pathway to reduce pollution while maintaining economic viability. By enhancing our understanding of microbial interactions during depilation, this study opens avenues for refining these eco-friendly techniques. Our findings advocate for a shift towards greener depilation methods and contribute to the broader dialogue on sustainable manufacturing practices, emphasizing the importance of leveraging indigenous microbial communities for environmental and economic gains.