Keratinolysis by poultry farm soil fungi

Species of Chrysosporium, Malbranchea, Scopulariopsis, Microascus, and Gliocladium isolated from poultry farm soils were grown on two keratin media. All the test fungi could grow on keratin (human hair) and degrade it, releasing sulphydryl-containing compounds detected as extracellular keratinase, cysteine and total proteins. Glucose supplemented keratin medium supported maximum keratinolysis. Keratinase activity also changed the pH of the medium towards alkalinity and species with strong keratinolytic ability were noted to render the culture medium more alkaline than those that were less keratinolytic.