Transforming Chicken Feather Waste into Feather Protein Hydrolysate Using a Newly Isolated Multifaceted Keratinolytic Bacterium Chryseobacterium sediminis RCM-SSR-7

Abstract

Accumulation of feather waste is becoming a major issue in solid waste management. Towards discovery of keratinolytic bacteria, screening of bacterial strains from feather dumping sites in North East, India was performed and 26 keratinolytic bacterial strains were isolated. Out of these, one isolate RCM-SSR-7 was found to be most promising strain exhibiting feather degradation as well as antioxidant and indole-3-acetic acid production. The strain was identified as Chryseobacterium sediminis RCM-SSR-7. The strain could use chicken feather as sole carbon and nitrogen source for growth. Three parameters (feather concentration, pH and incubation time) were studied to optimize feather protein hydrolysate (FPH) preparation using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum condition for FPH preparation was achieved at 5% (w/v) feather concentration, pH 7.5, 30 °C and 84 h incubation time upon optimization by RSM. FPH was found to be rich in essential amino acids and trace elements (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and iron). FPH exhibited radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 0.102 mg ml−1. In vitro digestibility showed that FPH is 86% digestible with pepsin and trypsin treatment. This study revealed that FPH produced by C. sediminis RCM-SSR-7 has the potential to be used as animal feed and organic fertilizer.