Mycobiology.  2003 Sep;31(3):157-161. 10.4489/MYCO.2003.31.3.157.

Keratinolytic Activity of Five Aspergillus Species Isolated from Poultry Farming Soil in Korea

• Kim JD

• KMID: 2052988
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4489/MYCO.2003.31.3.157

Abstract

Various soil samples were collected from twenty-four areas of ten different poultry farms in Korea and screened for prevalence of keratinolytic fungi. Fourteen species of feather-associated fungi belonging to ten genera Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Monascus, Mucor, Penicillum, and Verticillium isolated from poultry soils were grown on keratin medium. Especially, Aspergillus spp. populations associated with the soil sample is 1x10(5) cfu/g. A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. nidulans, and A. terreus could utilize keratin of chicken feather and degrade it, producing sulphydryl-containing compounds detected as keratinase, cysteine and total proteins. Keratinolytic activities of five Aspergillus species also changed the pH of the medium more alkaline than those that were less keratinolytic.

Keyword

Feathers; Keratinase; Keratinophilic fungi; Aspergillus spp.

MeSH Terms

Acremonium
Alternaria
Animals
Aspergillus*
Chickens
Cladosporium
Cysteine
Feathers
Fungi
Fusarium
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Korea*
Monascus
Mucor
Niger
Poultry*
Prevalence
Soil*
Verticillium
Cysteine
Soil