Isolation, Selection and Molecular Identification of Keratinase- Producing Yeast from Feather Waste Environment

Abstract

Processing of poultries generates large quantities of protein-rich feather wastes whose disposal causes environmental challenges. Keratinolytic yeasts produce keratinase enzymes, which are vital for degrading the highly recalcitrant keratin structure. However, production of keratinase from yeasts has remained largely unexplored. This investigation focused on the isolation, screening for keratinase and molecular identification of yeast from feather waste environment. Using standard microbiological procedures, yeasts were isolated from feather dump site, screened, and identified using molecular methods involving genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing. Identified yeast isolates were Yarrowia galli, Candida sp, Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces diastaticus. Yarrowia lipolytica which was subsequently confirmed as Yarrowia galli via molecular methods, has the maximum keratinase activity of 0.52 u/mL and highest percentage feather degradation rate of 41.8 %. This study demonstrates that the yeast isolated from feather waste has potential applications in biodegradation of feathers, waste management, and industrial biotechnology. The use of molecular techniques ensures accurate identification of yeast species.