Keratinophilic fungi: A microbial way to manage poultry waste feathers

The microbial activities of five-keratinophilic fungi, Chrysosporium anamorph of Rollandina vriesii, Geomyces pannorum, Microsporum fulvum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. terrestre were studied in shake condition. Microbial degradation was estimated in terms of percent weight loss and release of protein, keratinase, cysteine, cystine, methionine and change in pH of culture filtrate. Geomyces pannorum showed maximum release of protein, keratinase, cystine and methionine with a considerable change in pH towards alkalinity.