Biodegradation of poultry feathers by a novel bacterial isolate Bacillus altitudinis GVC11

Keratinolytic microorganisms have great importance in feather waste degradation and its use for improvement of livestock feed and production of protein hydrolysates. Bacillus altitudinis GVC11, a novel, raw chicken feather degrading bacterium, previously isolated and identified by morphological, biochemical and 16s rDNA sequencing in our laboratory, was used in the present study. It was grown in a medium containing only poultry feathers as sole carbon and nitrogen source. GVC11 was able to degrade white and dark chicken feathers in 48 and 96 h, respectively. Degradation of white feather including rachis and barbules was observed under electron microscope. The optimum conditions for keratinase production and feather degradation by GVC11 were pH 9, 37C and 200 rpm. Essential amino acids like phenyl alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and threonine were observed in supernatant obtained after feather degradation at concentrations of 124, 88, 19, 17, and 11 μmols, respectively per 100 mL of broth. Biodegradation of feathers by B. altitudinis GVC11 can be used for keratinase and oligopeptide production and degraded feather biomass can also be utilized as animal feed supplement.