Abstract:
The present study was conducted in order to study the ability of dextranase in reducing adherence of Streptococcus sobrinus onto smooth surface via the prevention as well as degradation of dextran based microbial plaques. Dextranase was produced by Arthrobacter sp. AG-2 and Penicillium pinophilum SMCU 3-14 via the induction of a-1,6 rich industrial grade dextran and a-1,3 rich dextran of S. sobrinus and vice versa. Dextranase from Arthrobacter sp. AG-2 via the induction of S. sobrinus 6715 dextran provided highest efficiency of plaque prevention on smooth surface with no trace of plaque was observed. This enzyme worked considerably well at broad pH range of 4.0-8.0. In case of preformed plaque, bacterial dextranase induced by industrial grade dextran was of better degradation than fungal dextranases while bacterial dextranase induced by bacterial dextran did not showed significant degrading activity. It is therefore concluded that bacterial dextranase induced by a-1,3 rich dextran is the best agent for plaque prevention but not to the degradation of preformed plaque while fungal dextranase either induced by bacterial or fungal dextran performed rather well in the latter case.