Screening, Characterization and Evaluation of a Potent Keratinolytic Bacteria for Biodegradation of Poultry Feather Waste In and Around Vijayawada

Keratinases are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading keratinous proteins, which are highly resistant and insoluble structural proteins abundantly present in feathers, hair, wool, nails, and other biological materials. Unlike conventional proteases, keratinases possess the ability to attack the complex structure of keratin; however, most keratinases reported to date are unable to completely solubilize native keratin. The unique mechanism of keratin degradation therefore remains an intriguing and incompletely understood phenomenon in the field of proteolytic enzymes. Keratinases have gained considerable attention due to their wide range of potential applications in feed, detergent formulations, leather processing, pharmaceutical industries, waste management, and other biotechnological processes. Poultry feather waste is produced in large quantities by the poultry industry and represents a significant environmental concern because of its high keratin content, resistance to degradation, and accumulation in the environment. Microbial degradation of feather waste using keratinolytic microorganisms offers an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional disposal methods and may facilitate the conversion of feather waste into valuable products. The present investigation focuses on the isolation and characterization of keratinolytic bacteria capable of producing extracellular keratinase and their potential for keratin degradation. Soil samples collected from areas surrounding poultry farms in and around Vijayawada were screened for keratinase-producing bacteria. The selected isolates were evaluated for keratinase production and feather degradation efficiency, followed by biochemical and molecular characterization for identification. The study aims to identify efficient extracellular keratinase-producing bacterial strains with potential applications in sustainable poultry feather waste management and biotechnological processes.