# Harnessing Microbial Consortia for Efficient Keratinous Biomass Biotransformation

## TL;DR

This paper explores using microbial communities to efficiently convert tough keratin waste into useful products, promoting sustainability.

## Contribution

The study highlights microbial consortia as a novel and effective approach for keratinous biomass biotransformation.

## Key findings

- Microbial consortia offer better keratin biodegradation through complementary metabolic pathways.
- Ancillary microbial enzymes play a key role in converting keratinous waste into value-added products.
- Current research gaps include the need for more studies on microbial consortia for keratin valorization.

## Abstract

Microorganisms exhibit metabolic versatility, which enables their multifaceted application, including in pollutant detoxification, waste recycling, and environmental restoration. Agricultural processing generates substantial byproducts rich in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, which require proper handling to mitigate ecological challenges and reduce carbon footprints. The generation of recalcitrant keratinous biomass and its slow degradation in the environment have prompted technological interventions for sustainable solutions. Fundamentally, chemical, thermal and mechanical processing methods have been utilized in managing keratinous waste. These approaches are not only energy-intensive but also yield low-quality products and exacerbate environmental challenges. Multidimensional research on the microbial-assisted conversion of keratinous waste into valuable products, which aligns with circular economy principles, is underway. The biodegradation of keratinous resources has predominantly employed culturable single microbial strains; however, few studies have recently investigated microbial consortia as a promising strategy. The use of microbial consortia leverages the high cultural stability and complementary metabolic pathways of microbes to achieve excellent keratin biodegradation. Therefore, this study examined the latest advancements in transforming keratinous waste into high-quality protein hydrolysates using microbial strains. It detailed various types of microbial consortia and their roles in the valorization of keratinous biomass, while highlighting some knowledge gaps for future studies. The study also explored the role of ancillary microbial enzymes in facilitating the conversion of keratinous biomass into value-added products.