Isolation and Characterization of Keratin Degrading Bacterial Isolate

Abstract

Chicken feather wastes are generated as one of the abundant by product, by the poultry meat processing units. These contains 90% of keratin in their composition. So, undoubtedly these are the promising source of amino acids and the bioactive peptides of the proteins. But unfortunately, most of these wastes are disposed by landfilling and incineration, instead of being their conversion into value-added products. Keratin is one of the structural and insoluble protein, that provides the structural toughness to the animal feathers. It also serves its fundamental protective capabilities, in the outermost dead layer of epithelium of the epidermis.