Abstract

Fish protein hydrolysates from low cost fish species (Sardinella aurita) were prepared and tested as carbon and nitrogen sources for microbial growth and lipase production by Staphylococcus simulans. When cultivated in media containing Whole Sardinella Hydrolysate (WSH) or Meat Sardinella Hydrolysate (MSH), lipase production was significantly low, 5 and 10 U/ml, respectively. However, lipase production was strongly enhanced when partially defatted sardinella hydrolysate was used and highest lipase production was obtained with Partially Defatted Meat sardinella Hydrolysate (PDMSH) (55 U/ml), higher than that obtained with tryptone as nitrogen source. Peptone from sardinella was also prepared and compared with a tryptone from casein and other fish peptones. The results revealed that sardinella peptone is a good substrate for the growth of S. simulans.

Key words: Staphylococcus simulans, culture media, Sardinella aurita, sardinella protein hydrolsates, sardinella peptone, lipase.