Selection and characterization of feather-degrading bacteria from canola meal compost

Canola meal that contains a high level of protein (similar to 40% crude pro tein) was used as compost material for the isolation of feather-degrading b acteria. After 7 and 14 days, bacteria were isolated from compost amended a nd unamended with soil. Eighty bacterial isolates from canola meal compost were then grown on milk-agar and isolates that produced proteolytic enzymes were identified by the formation of clear haloes around the colonies. A fe ather medium was chosen for a secondary selection of feather-degrading isol ates. Of the eight isolates that hydrolyzed milk protein, five isolates hyd rolyzed feathers, Their keratinolytic activities were subsequently confirme d by an assay using azo-keratin as substrate. Seven of the eight bacteria t hat hydrolyzed milk protein were Bacillus spp, and all five isolates that h ydrolyzed feathers were strains of Bacillus licheniformis, Protease inhibit ion studies indicated that serine proteases are the predominant proteolytic enzymes produced by these feather-degrading isolates.