Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Potential Enzyme Production By Culturable Rumen Bacteria Isolated From Commonly Slaughtered Cattle In Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
by Awojobi, Kehinde. O. and Adeyosoye, Olusoji I.

Abstract:
Largest percentage of industrial enzymes are obtained from fungi while over 90 % of rumen bacteria are yet to be explored for their enzyme production potentials due to their inability to grow on artificial growth media. This study harnessed the production and hydrolytic activities of crude enzymes obtained from the isolated bacteria resident in the rumen of selected cows around Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Three (3) batches of sample preparations were made from aseptically collected rumen contents from cattle immediately after slaughter at 3 prominent abattoirs. Rumen temperature was taken on the spot before the samples were transported in ice pack to the laboratory for pH determination and microbiological assessments of total viable bacterial count and the enzyme assays. Sampled rumen liquor was serially diluted and plated out on Nutrient agar (NA) to estimate the count (cfu/ml) while distinct bacterial colonies were screened qualitatively via rapid assay method for crude enzyme production by the formation of halo zones on specific media.All positive enzyme-producing bacteria isolates were further quantitatively screened for enzyme activity with corresponding protein concentration from which specific enzyme activity was estimated to select the best performing candidate bacterium for each enzyme assay with a view to providing information on their potential production of crude amylase, cellulase, pectinase, protease and lipase and their hydrolytic activities respectively. The results showed that the rumen temperature, pH, and total bacterial count ranged from 27.0 - 29.8oC; 6.89 - 7.5 and 8.8 x 106 - 2.8 x 1013cfu/ml, respectively. Five bacterial isolates coded 10F, 8J, 8G, 7E and 8L with corresponding specific activity of 57.59, 8.93, 565.13,5.98 and 153.87 U/mg, respectively were identified as Klebsiellaedwardsii, Photobacteriumdamselae, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Stenotrophomonasmatophilia and Burkhoderiacepacia as the best enzyme-producing bacteria for amylase, cellulase, pectinase, protease and lipase, respectively. The study concluded that rumen bacteria could be harnessed for their crude enzyme production for possible capacity building in the application of such enzymes in industrial processes such as bio-degradation of organic matters. Detailed molecular studies of the enzyme-producing bacterial isolates obtained in this study are hereby recommended.

Keywords: Cattle Rumen, Culturable Bacteria, Crude Enzyme, Enzyme Assay, Specific Enzyme Activity

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