Abstract
Keratinophilic fungi are present in soil as decomposers of keratinous substrates, while keratinolytic fungi have the capacity to decompose native keratin, the insoluble fibrous proteins from living organism. Keratin materials, especially by-products from food industry and animal husbandry must be harnessed through innovative, non-polluting and low-cost solutions. The nonpathogenic keratinolytic fungal species produce extracellular keratinases which have many and various applications, one being in leather industry where dehairing process of skin and hides require keratinolytic activity. The present study investigates the biodegradative potential of selected keratinolytic fungal microorganisms expressed towards different types of animal skins. The ability of Fusarium sp. 1 A strain to produce keratinase with a good activity towards animal skins was confirmed. These results suggest that after further studies, Fusarium sp.1A could play an important role in processing of animal wastes.
Highlights
Experimental part MicroorganismThe fungal strains Fusarium sp. 1A and Cladosporium sp. belonging to Microbial Collection of Microbiology Laboratory from INCDCP-ICECHIM were isolated from soil
Keratinophilic fungi are present in soil as decomposers of keratinous substrates, while keratinolytic fungi have the capacity to decompose native keratin, the insoluble fibrous proteins from living organism
Keratinophilic fungi belonged to Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes genera are present in soil as decomposers of keratinous substrates, some of them being pathogens causing a series of fungal infections in animals and humans, especially those from dermatophytes group
Summary
The fungal strains Fusarium sp. 1A and Cladosporium sp. belonging to Microbial Collection of Microbiology Laboratory from INCDCP-ICECHIM were isolated from soil. The animal samples were sterilized three times, at 121 oC, for 15 min, and kept at room temperature in a dry place. Keratinase activity The keratinase activity in culture supernatants was determined using keratin azure (Sigma- Aldrich) [17]. The substrate solution comprised 5 mg keratin azure powder in 1mL 50 mM Tris - HCl buffer (pH 8.0). The reaction mixture contained 1mL keratin azure suspension and 1mL fungal culture filtrate. The control comprised a 1 mL keratin azure suspension and 1mL basal medium. After centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 15 min at room temperature, the absorbance of supernatant was determined at 595 nm (Biomate 3, Thermo Spectronic). One unit (KA) keratinase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme causing 0.01 absorbance increase between the sample and control at 595 nm under given conditions
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