Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of a Feather-Degrading Bacterium

Williams, C. M.; Richter, Carole S.; Mackenzie, Janet; Shih, Jason C. H.

doi:10.1128/aem.56.6.1509-1515.1990

Cited by 282 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…We placed each unmelanized and melanized fragment of feather in independent test tubes with 3 mL of media (10 mL of five different saline solutions, 0.10 g yeast extract, 950 mL deionized water; see Williams et al, 1990 for details), autoclaved to sterilize the feather media (previous media plus the fragment of feather to be degraded). Autoclaving could affect the molecular structure of feathers (e.g.…”

Section: Fragments Of Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial degradability of an intrafeather unmelanized ornament: a role for feather-degrading bacteria in sexual selection?

Ruiz-de-Castañeda

Burtt

González‐Braojos

et al. 2012

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The impact of feather-degrading bacilli on feathers depends on the presence or absence of melanin. In vitro studies have demonstrated that unmelanized (white) feathers are more degradable by bacteria than melanized (dark) ones. However, no previous study has looked at the possible effect of feather-degrading bacilli on the occurrence of patterns of unmelanized patches on otherwise melanized feathers. The pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Pallas, 1764 is a sexually dimorphic passerine with white wing bands consisting of unmelanized patches on dark flight feathers. These patches are considered to be a sexually selected trait in Ficedula flycatchers, especially in males, where the patches are more conspicuous (larger and possibly whiter) than in females. Using in vitro tests of feather bacterial degradation, we compared the degradability of unmelanized and melanized areas of the same feather for 127 primaries collected from the same number of individuals in a population breeding in central Spain (58 males and 69 females). In addition, we also looked for sex differences in feather degradability. Based on honest signalling theory and on the fact that there is stronger sexual selection for males to signal feather quality than in females, we predicted that unmelanized areas should be more degradable by bacteria than melanized ones within the same feather, and that these unmelanized areas should also be more degradable in males than in females. We confirmed both predictions. Microstructural differences between cross-section dimensions of unmelanized and melanized barbs, but not differences in the density of barbs within unmelanized and melanized areas of feathers in males and females, could partly explain differences in degradability. This is the first study to show differences in bacterial degradability among markings on the same feather and among unmelanized feather patches between males and females as predicted by sexual selection theory.

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Section: Fragments Of Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial degradability of an intrafeather unmelanized ornament: a role for feather-degrading bacteria in sexual selection?

Ruiz-de-Castañeda

Burtt

González‐Braojos

et al. 2012

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…Many strains of bacteria degrade feathers with Bacillus licheniformis being particularly important (Williams et al 1990;Burtt & Ichida 1999). Bacillus licheniformis degrades feathers (Williams et al 1990;Burtt & Ichida 1999), but also produces antimicrobial substances (Simlot, Specht & Pfaender 1972;Haavik 1974) that are active against bacteria of the genera Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Micobacterium, amoebae ) and fungi Patel, Tendulkar & Chattoo 2004). Thus, because of the antimicrobial properties of such substances B. licheniformis may impede the establishment of other more virulent bacteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather micro‐organisms and uropygial antimicrobial defences in a colonial passerine bird

2009

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Summary 1.The relationship between the composition of communities of micro-organisms and their hosts remains poorly understood. We conducted extensive field studies of feather-degrading bacteria, other cultivable bacteria, and fungi on the plumage of a migratory bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, to understand the association between micro-organisms, host sociality and host antimicrobial defences, as reflected by the size of the uropygial gland. 2. The abundance of feather-degrading bacteria, but not other cultivable bacteria or fungi, decreased with increasing size of the uropygial gland. 3. Females had more feather-degrading bacteria than males. 4. Barn swallows living in larger colonies had more feather-degrading bacteria than less social conspecifics. 5. These findings suggest that the uropygial gland plays a specific role in regulating the abundance of feather-degrading bacteria that furthermore depends on the social environment of the host.

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“…Millions of tons of poultry feathers are generated annually as a waste by-product at poultry processing plants Worldwide with potential environmental impact (Williams et al 1990;Friedrich and Antranikian 1996). Nevertheless, feathers do not accumulate in nature, since structural keratin can be degraded by some micro-organisms (Onifade et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermophilic protease production by Streptomyces sp. 594 in submerged and solid-state fermentations using feather meal

et al. 2006

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Aims: Protease production by Streptomyces sp. 594 in submerged (SF) and solid‐state fermentation (SSF) using feather meal, an industrial poultry residue, and partial characterization of the crude enzyme. Methods and Results: Streptomyces sp. 594 produced proteases in SF (7·2 ± 0·2 U ml−1) and SSF (15·5 ± 0·41 U g−1), with pH increase in both media. Considering protease activity, values obtained in the liquid extract after SSF (6·3 ± 0·17 U ml−1) were lower than those from SF. The proteases, which belong to serine and metalloproteinase classes, were active over a wide range of pH (5·0–10·0) and high temperatures (55–80°C). Strain 594 was also able to degrade feather in agar and liquid media. Keratinase activity (80 U l−1) also confirmed the keratin degrading capacity of this streptomycete. Conclusions: Proteases produced using residues from poultry industry have shown interesting properties for industrial purposes. Significance and Impact of the Study: As far as we are concerned, this is the first contribution towards the production of thermophilic protease by a streptomycete in SSF using a keratinous waste.

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Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of a Feather-Degrading Bacterium

Cited by 282 publications

References 13 publications

Bacterial degradability of an intrafeather unmelanized ornament: a role for feather-degrading bacteria in sexual selection?

Bacterial degradability of an intrafeather unmelanized ornament: a role for feather-degrading bacteria in sexual selection?

Feather micro‐organisms and uropygial antimicrobial defences in a colonial passerine bird

Thermophilic protease production by Streptomyces sp. 594 in submerged and solid-state fermentations using feather meal

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