Keratinolytic Potential of Fungal Strains Isolated from Soils of Public Places

Keratin is an insoluble macromolecule, comprised of long‐polypeptide chains that are commonly found in hair, wool, feather, nail, horn and feather, and the stability of keratin depends on the adjacent chains linked by disulphide bonds. Several bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes are microorganisms, which are associated with secreting the keratinolytic enzymes called ‘keratinases’ play a significant role in the degradation of keratin. In this study soil samples were collected from different public places (poultry farm, school, mosque and park) and analysed the incidence of keratinophilic fungal strains. Specific fungal strains were isolated by keratin‐baiting techniques and analysed for the production of keratinases. Poultry farm soil has the highest number of fungal species followed by the soil obtained from the school.