Keratinolytic potential of bacterial endophytes isolated from Capsicum chinense of Northeast India

Abstract

Recent times highly demand an efficient and cost-effective alternative for keratin waste degradation. Studies have shown that microbial hydrolysis of keratin waste is a popular biotechnological substitute for the process of ker-atin waste valorization, which is achieved through the microbial keratinases. To sequester keratinolytic microorganisms with potential to influence com-mercial utilization as keratinase manufacturers, the present work evaluates the endophytic bacterial strains isolated from the host plant Capsicum chinense. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed that out of 4 isolated bacte-rial strains from the root and shoot parts of C. chinense, 1 strain showed sig-nificant caseinolytic and keratinolytic activities. The caseinase enzyme was measured spectrophotometrically and found to be 6.3 U/ml and the keratinase production was measured to be 93U/ml. Bacillus subtilis strain was used as a positive control. Molecular identification showed the efficient endophyte Cb4 to be Enterobacter sps, while the lesser efficient isolate Cb1 was identified as Proteus sps. The potential of the bacterial strains to dena-ture keratin substrates was assessed by SEM, FTIR spectra analysis. Bacterial endophytes isolated from the roots and shoots of C. chinense were tested for their economic importance to replace severe chemical approaches for remediating the environment. The results confirmed the amplified efficacy of the host plant, harboring the beneficial bacterial endophytes.