PROTEOLYTIC AND LIPOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF FUNGI ISOLATED FROM LUNCHEON MEAT AND POULTRY IN ASSIUT CITY

摘要

Fourty samples of luncheon meat and poultry (20 samples for each) were collected from different supermarkets at Assiut City for mycological investigation. The plating technique using dichloran ros-bengal agar medium which incubated at 28°C was used for enumeration and isolation of fungi. The results indicated that all samples were highly contaminated with moulds. Some 35 species belonging to 14 genera were isolated. The most frequently encountered fungi were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. parasiticus. Penicillium chrysogenum, P. corylophilum, Alternaria alternate and Mucor ciricinelloides. A. fumigatus, A. melleus, A. tamarii, P. citrinum, P. italicum and Scopuloriopsis brevicaulis were less common. A total of 54 isolates, belonging to 26 specieswere tested for their abilities to produce lipase and protease enzymes. Of these isolates 81.5% and 72.2% could produce lipase and protease enzymes, respectively. The public health significance of isolated fungi was discussed.