Isolation and Characterization of a Potential Proteinase Producing Mammaliicoccus sciuri from the Gut of Eri Silkworm (Samia ricini)

Proteinase, a group of enzymes responsible for the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids, plays pivotal role in various biological processes such as digestion, protein turnover and immune function. Eri silkworms, which are known for their silk production, are of great interest not only in the agricultural industry but also from a microbiological perspective due to the diverse microbial community residing in their gut. This investigation spotlights the isolation, characterization and evaluation of enzyme activity of putative proteinase-producing bacteria from eri silkworm. The study identified Mammaliicoccus sciuri as a potential proteinase producing gram positive, coccus with an enzyme activity of 0.115 ± 0.003 U/ml. Biochemical characterization unveils its involvement in various physiological roles. These findings hold promise for the development of novel probiotics applications aimed at improving the health and growth of silkworm and other animal species. Furthermore, exploring protease-producing gut bacteria in eri silkworm could offer valuable insights for both industrial and ecological applications.