Behind the scenes: metagenomic analysis of bacterial communities in sustainable depilation of sheepskin.

This article focuses on the use of acetic acid as an eco-friendly depilation method in the leather industry, examining its effects on indigenous bacterial communities of sheepskins through metagenomic analysis. The study found that acetic acid treatment significantly increased bacterial diversity and promoted the growth of Actinomycetia, particularly the Micrococcaceae family, while suppressing other groups such as Gammaproteobacteria and Weeksellaceae, which were more prevalent in water-treated controls. Functional predictions indicated that acetic acid reduced microbial degradation pathways that could damage the skin matrix, suggesting a more stable and selective microbial environment conducive to sustainable depilation. These findings highlight the potential of acetic acid to improve leather processing by leveraging native microbial populations, offering a cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional and enzymatic depilation methods.