Bacillus licheniformis is a fascinating bacterium commonly found in soil ecosystems.

Applications:

• Industrial Enzymes: Subtilisin Carlsberg performs well at high pH levels (8.0–10.0) and temperatures (40–50 °C) in laundry detergents 1.

• Feather Degradation: Researchers explore using B. licheniformis to degrade feathers for agricultural purposes. Feathers contain non-digestible proteins, and fermentation with this bacterium could produce cheap and nutritious feather meal for livestock feed.

• Ecological Research: Scientists study the interaction between plumage colors and B. licheniformis activity, potentially linking feather degrading bacteria to the evolution of molting and feather coloration patterns (Gloger’s Rule)