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Updated: May 30, 2026

Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics
Published on: November 27, 2017
Keratinase Production by Three Bacillus spp. Using Feather Meal and Whole Feather as Substrate in a Submerged
Ana Maria Mazotto1, Rosalie Reed Rodrigues Coelho, Sabrina Martins Lage Cedrola
1Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Bloco I, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Abstract:
Three Bacillus species (B. subtilis LFB-FIOCRUZ 1270, B. subtilis LFB-FIOCRUZ 1273, and B. licheniformis LFB-FIOCRUZ 1274), isolated from the poultry industry, were evaluated for keratinase production using feathers or feather meal as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources in a submerged fermentation. The three Bacillus spp. produced extracellular keratinases and peptidases after 7 days. Feather meal was the best substrate for keratinase and peptidase production in B. subtilis 1273, with 412 U/mL and 463 U/ml. The three strains were able to degrade feather meal (62-75%) and feather (40-95%) producing 3.9-4.4 mg/ml of soluble protein in feather meal medium and 1.9-3.3 mg/ml when feather medium was used. The three strains produced serine peptidases with keratinase and gelatinase activity. B. subtilis 1273 was the strain which exhibited the highest enzymatic activity.
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