Detection of Extracellular Enzymes produced by Keratinophilic Fungi isolated from Poultry Farm Soil

A total of 25 keratinophilic fungi including five dermatophytes and closely related species and 20 other fungi were isolated in poultry farm soil from Namakkal, India. The isolated keratinophilic fungi were screened for the extracellular enzymes viz. amylase, protease, cellulase, lipase and keratinase by using plate assay. All of the fungi, with the exception of a non-sporulating fungus, were able to produce at least one of the enzymes and most of the fungi (i.e. Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. terreus, Penicillium citrinum, P. frequentans and P. purpurogenum) could produce all types of the examined enzymes. A. versicolor and A. niger synthesized the highest amounts of amylase and cellulase respectively and P. citrinum and Trichoderma viride produced the highest amount of lipase. Maximum amounts of protease and keratinase were synthesized by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. In addition, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and A. niger were also potential producer of keratinase. Finally, these keratinophilic fungi were able to produce a wide range of industrial extracellular enzymes. Interestingly, all of the dermatophytes and closely related species produced protease and keratinase.