Bacteria degrading wool

Biological Degradation. Wool may be targeted by a variety of keratinophilic bacteria and fungi, which break down the component proteins via enzymatic oxidation, reduction or hydrolysis this type of attack predominantly tends to occur in the amorphous regions, particularly in the cuticle. Wool fibres are also susceptible to attack by several species of moths and beetles. 

Macdiarmid, J. A. and Burrell, D. H. (1992). Degradation of the wool fibre by bacteria isolated from fleece rot. Wool Tech. Sheep Breeding40,123-126. 

Wool wax, unlike human sebum, contains no triglycerides and is chemically a wax rather than a fat.8-9 The wool wax of newborn lambs is thought to consist almost entirely of esters which are very pale in color. These esters are hydrolyzed in the alkaline secretions by bacteria and the environment. The products can undergo further oxidation and degradation. The yield and composition... 

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