Keratinase Production by Endophytic Bacteria Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus VRCS-4 Isolated from Xerophytic Plant Opuntia ficus - indica (Prickly pear)

Bacterial endophytes colonize an ecological niche which is unexplored site makes them suitable to produce pharmacologically active substances with vast biotechnological potential therefore, xerophytes were chosen to isolate the endophytes. In the present study forty endophytic bacterial isolates were isolated from xerophytic plants grown near poultry farms and feather dumping sites. Of them eight isolates showed zone of hydrolysis and the maximum zone of hydrolyisis of 36mm was with VRCS-4 on skimmed milk agar. This isolate exhibited efficient feather degradation and was identified as Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus based on its morphological, biochemical test and molecular sequencing method. The isolate was deposited in NCBI with an accession number MW227423.The isolate showed maximum en-zyme activity of 140.24U/ml at 72h, pH 7.5 and 40º C at 140 rpm. Chicken feather 1% (w/v) used as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Feather deg-radation by A.aneurinilyticus VRCS-4 showed 90% degradation in feather meal broth. Ours appears to be the first report on keratinase production by endophytic bacteria from xerophytic plant (Opuntia ficus -indica).

TO THE QUESTION OF AGRICULTURAL POULTRY ETHOLOGY AT THE TECHNOLOGICAL STRESS

In this article, based on the study of the behavior of laying hens under the technological stress caused by the migration of birds from cage keeping to the floor, and finding the correlation of behavior with their physiological state, it was found that in two systems of hierarchy – relative and absolute – in both there were violations of the usual order of common group of birds formation. This is manifested in rank-ing change, unusual excitement and aggression of the birds, the "order of pecking" violated, there were territorial conflicts, in fights birds were injured that led to a decrease in feed intake and general oppres-sion. Especially noticeable was an important indicator of instinctive behavior – redirected aggression, necessary to maintain a hierarchical order. All behavioral reactions were accompanied by changes in blood parameters and a decrease in the overall resistance of animals.. Moreover, blood parameters in animals of the two groups varied differently: in the group with an absolute system of hierarchy, the num-ber of pseudoeosinophils increased by 1.6 times (P<0.02), glucose level increased by 0.06 mmol/l, lyso-zyme activity decreased to 34.37 % against 42.57% in the first group, and bactericidal activity decreased by 33% in animals with an absolute system of hierarchy.