The microbial growth, endospores production and protease activity was investigated during growth of Bacillus licheniformes E-44 on nutrient broth medium at 40 degrees C, The total number of bacterial cells (8.8 x 10(10) UFC/ml), endospores production (8 x 10(7) UFC/ml) and protease activity (17.8 Anson U/ml) were maximal after 20 h of cultivation. The hydrolytic activity of the produced crude enzymatic preparation was assessed on residual distillery's yeast cream for obtaining a Saccharomyces cerevisiae hydrolysate (SCH). An increase of the concentration of gluco-and manno-oligosaccharides And total reducing sugars was observed during the production of SCH. The highest concentrations of gluco- and manno-oligosaccharides and total reducing sugars were achieved after 16 and 20 h, respectively. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.