DEXTRAN DEGRADING BACTERIA IN HUMAN ORAL CAVITY AND THEIR ACTIVITY AGAINST INSOLUBLE GLUCAN FROM STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS

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The distribution of dextran-degrading microorganisms in the saliva and plaque samples from the human oral cavity was assayed on 9 subjects. Approximately 2/ 3 of the saliva samples degraded Dextran T-150 (Pharmacia, M.W. 150,000) and 1/10 the Blue Dextran (Pharmacia), while 2/5 and 1/8 of the plaque samples degraded Dextran T-150 and Blue Dextran, respectively. Thirty-seven strains of the Blue Dextran degrading bacteria were isolated from the saliva and plaque samples and were classified into 6 groups by their morphology, gram staining and oxygen tolerance. The 24 strains from the 37 isolates, more or less, were shown to degrade the insoluble glucan extracted from Streptococcus mutans FA-1 on the agar plate. The 8 strains, selected from each group, were tested for their activity against the insoluble glucan extracted from Str. mutans (FA-1, HS-6, BHT, CHT, GS-5, LM-7 and PK-1) and Str. salivarius (HHT). The strains belonging to Groups I, II, IV and V showed activity against the insoluble glucan used. Among them, the strains of Group IV (gram negative facultative cocci) and Group V (gram negative strict anaerobic rod) were the most active against the insoluble glucan.