Abstract

The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the in vitro biodegradation of keratin by clinical isolates of dermatophytes and soil fungi. Ten fungal species, out of which, six (Chrysosporiumindicum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Scopulariopsis sp., Aspergillus terreus, Microsporumgypseum and Fusarium oxysporum) were isolated from soil and four clinical (Trichophytonrubrum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum fulvum) were obtained from human skin. The isolates were tested for their keratin degradation ability on human and animal (cow and buffalo) hair baits. The rate of keratin degradation was expressed as weight loss over three weeks of incubation. Human hair had the highest rate of keratin degradation (56.66%) by colonization of C. indicum. whereas M. gypseum and T. verrucosum were highly degraded (49.34%) to animal hairs. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in keratin substrate degradation rates by the examined fungi. Human hair served as an excellent source for the biodegradation of keratin by the isolated test fungi as compared to animal hair. Releasing protein showed maceration of the keratin substrates by the test fungi. The present study reveals that, the isolated test fungi play a significant impact on biodegradation of keratin substrates for betterment of environmental hazards.

Key words: Fungal species, keratin substrates, keratin degradation, released protein, environmental hazards.