Background: Feathers are the major byproducts of poultry industry and considered as waste. Feathers (composed of protein keratin) are metabolized by a number of microorganisms as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Degradation of feathers results in production of amino acids and peptides, which can be employed as precursors for plant growthpromoting metabolites such as indole acetic acid, ammonia and HCN. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the influence of these metabolites (termed as feather protein hydrolysate) on plant growth promotion activity of keratinolytic bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF1.Results: Strain PF1 exhibits potent keratinolytic activity and can efficiently degrade 10 g/l chicken feathers under submerged cultivation with 81.4 ± 4.40 U/ml keratinase activity. Different concentrations of feathers supported the production of indole acetic acid by strain PF1. Strain PF1 produces maximum indole acetic acid (46.2 ± 0.21 µg/ml) in the presence of 2.0 % feathers at 120 h of incubation. The indole acetic acid production was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. However, increased concentration of feathers exhibited negative effect on phosphate solubilization due to increased alkalinity. HCN production also exhibited positive correlation with concentration of feathers. Finally, plant growth of Vigna radiata in the presence of strain PF1 with chicken feathers in soil was investigated, which showed good plant growth promotion activity. Increased ratio of C/N in soil also supported the plant growth promotion activity of feathers.
Conclusion:Feather degradation property of B. subtilis PF1 could be efficiently utilized for feather waste management. The metabolites released by feather degradation along with strain PF1 could be successfully employed as an economic source of nitrogen fertilizers for plants.
An efficient keratinolytic strain of Stenorophomonas maltophilia KB13 was isolated from feather disposal site of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. The strain could metabolize 10 g/l chicken feathers as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Soluble protein, amino acid, and cysteine content were found to be maximum (690.6 ± 8.7, 688.9 ± 9.12 and 21 ± 0.36 µg/ml, respectively) at late logarithmic phase of growth. Protease and keratinase activity reached its maximum level (103.26 ± 7.09 and 178.5 ± 9.10 U/ml) at the 4th day of incubation. The feather protein hydrolysate (FPH) obtained after degradation of chicken feathers was utilized to reduce hexavalent chromium. About 78.4 ± 2.4 and 63.6 ± 2.2 % reduction of 50 and 100 mg/l Cr(VI), respectively, was observed after 60 min of incubation with FPH. Further, there was no effect of autoclaved FPH on Cr(VI) reduction indicating that any bacterial enzyme was not involved in reduction process. Cr(VI) reduction was significantly inhibited by 10 mm Hg2+ ions indicating the role of sulfur-containing amino acids in reduction process. FTIR analysis confirmed that chromium reduction occurred due to oxidation of amino acids cysteine and cystine. This study shows that FPH arising after feather degradation can be employed as a potential candidate for the reduction of hexavalant chromium.
Bioaerosol containing fungal spores became public health hazards. The aerosols contain the fungal spores of different species of Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Penicillium, Wallemia, Stachybotrys etc. and caused various life-threatening respiratory diseases such as hypersensitivity, pneumonia, Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Mucormycosis, Cancer, etc. They are easily transmitted from one individual to another. They also cause extreme damage to crops and create problems in food security by producing mycotoxins. The transmissions of fungal spores depend upon the environmental factor, seasonal variation, growth surface, type of fungal spore, etc. There are various biophysical, biochemical and molecular techniques that are present to detect fungal spores in aerosol. There are numerous physical and chemical agents that can kill fungi. Good public health and food security can be achieved through the detection and management of fungal spores in aerosols.
Significant global efforts have been made in recent years to combat tuberculosis (TB) disease. Despite the fact that social and economic causes of TB have been well known for decades, the range of interventions has, until recently, been mostly restricted to the health domain. Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes tuberculosis, the second-deadliest infectious killer (after COVID-19), which typically damages the lungs. It can spread when TB patients cough or otherwise release bacteria into the air, which can spread the disease. To ensure that significant gaps in outcome-oriented research are recognized and filled, we must promote collaboration among all involved parties in tuberculosis research and control in order to optimise the impact of fundamental research. Consequently, a multisectoral and interdisciplinary strategy is necessary as the global health community works toward the pledges and goals established in two recent high-level political gatherings.
Actinomycetes due to their unique repertoire of antimicrobial secondary metabolites can be a good source to control human pathogens. In our research plan, soil samples were collected from Bhilai, India. The strains were isolated using yeast extract-malt extract agar medium and identified based on their morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. The antifungal activity of isolates was examined by the perpendicular streak plate as well as the agar well diffusion method. Out of 14 isolates, only 4 isolates (28.5%) showed antifungal activity. Further, one isolate showed the highest antifungal activity and was identified as Streptomyces antibioticus A8 based on PIB-Win software and the identification score was 0.99. Antifungal activity of new isolate Streptomyces antibioticus A8 against the T. rubrum MTCC 296, with a zone of inhibition 28±0.0 mm, whereas minimum activity was recorded against A. niger MTCC 872 with the zone of inhibition 9±0.0 mm. antifungal activity against C.albicans ATCC10231, C.albicans ATCC90028, C. albicans ATCC24433, C.albicans MTCC183, C.tropicalis MTCC184, A.alternata MTCC 1779 was recorded as 20±0.0mm, 17±0.0 mm, 17±0.0 mm, 15±0.5 mm, 14±0.0 mm and 11±0.0 mm respectively by agar well diffusion method. Further, discovering new antimicrobial-producingmicrobes probably will be helpful for uncovering novel therapeutic agents against a broad range of pathogenic organisms.
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