CELLULOLYTIC ISOLATE KLUYVERA SP. CRP FROM RED PANDA FAECES (AILURUS FULGENS) FOR SECOND-GENERATION BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

Second-generation biofuels derive energy from lignocellulosic waste, a considerably more sustainable feedstock than food commodities. Lignocellulose, however, requires pre-treatment to release fermentable sugars, a process that may be bacterial. In this work, Kluyvera sp. CRP, isolated from faeces of a Chinese red panda (Ailurus fulgens), demonstrated significant cellulolytic activity in vitro. Its complete genomic sequence (5,157,963 bp, 54.80% GC content), which was established through hybrid assembly, found similarity to an endophytic strain of Kluyvera and genomic analysis revealed an extensive carbohydrate metabolism with multiple isoforms of degradative enzymes. Hence, Kluyvera sp. CRP, or its isolated enzymes, may provide a useful tool for the valorisation of agricultural waste.