Bacteria from genera Bacillus and Sarcina are capable of using chicken feather keratin as a source of carbon and nitrogen in the medium. We investigated the process of feather degradation in submerged cultures, as well as cell growth and keratinase and protease synthesis levels in presence of selected reducing agents. Cysteine and Na₂SO₃ stimulated the synthesis of proteases, while Na2SO3 and Na2S, keratinases. The deterioration of keratin structure was observed by the means of scanning electron microscopy.

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