Bioconversion of poultry wastes I-factors influencing the assay and productivity of crude uricase by three uricolytic filamentous fungi.

ABSTRACT

The optimum temperature for biomass yield and uricase production by uricolytic fungi, Aspergillus terreus. A. flavus and Trichoderma sp. was at 30 degrees C. The time required for maximum production of uricase and biomass yield was 4 days for two Aspergillus species and 6 days for Trichoderma sp. The optimum pH was at 6.4 for A. terreus and pH 6.6 for both A. flavus and Trichoderma sp. The maximum fungal biomass yield was achieved in medium supplemented with 4% poultry waste. The best carbon sources for the production of uricase and mycelia yield were glycerol, sucrose and maltose by A. terreus, A. flavus and Trichoderma sp., respectively. Uric acid was found to be the best nitrogen source for production and activity of uricase by the three tested fungi. The addition of some vitamins to the culture media increased the maximum biomass yield of all the isolates, but did not significantly increase uricase production.