Reduction of the formation of dental plaque and gingivitis in humans by crude mutanase

Abstract

The effect of a Trichoderma harzianum enzyme preparation containing mutanase (a-1,3 glucan glucanohydrolase) on plaque accumulation and composition and on occurrence of gingivitis was assessed in 20 persons in a double-blind cross-over investigation. The enzyme preparation was administered in chewing gum. Two test periods ol 1 week were preceded by scaling and cleansing of the teeth, oral hygiene instruction, and controlled hygiene for at least 3 weeks. Oral hygiene measures were discontinued during the test periods, while the persons chewed six pieces of chewing gum per day, one half using enzyme-containing gum, and the other half using placebo gum. The test periods were identical, only enzyme gum was used instead of placebo, or vice versa. Evaluations ol plaque and gingivitis showed that less plaque had accumulated and less gingivitis developed during the enzyme than during the placebo period, but bacteriologic studies of interproximal plaque did not reveal differences that could explain the clinical findings. Treatment with the enzyme preparation caused some local side effects, but no primary skin irritation, delayed hypersensitivity, nor anti-enzyme IgE was detected in any of tfie persons.

Biochemical Analysis of Recombinant Fungal Mutanases

“…The reaction was terminated by adding 0.1 ml of 0.4 M NaOH and the samples were centrifuged for 5 min at 14,000 ϫ g and filtered through 0.45-m HV-filters (Millipore). To each filtrate (100 l) in Eppendorf vials 750 l of ferricyanide reagent (0.4 g/liter K 3 Fe(CN) 6 , 20 g/liter Na 2 CO 3 ) was added and incubated 15 min at 85°C. After allowing the samples to cool, the decrease in absorbance at 420 nm was measured.…”

“…Mutan is composed of ␣1,3-glucan with some ␣1,6-glucan (dextran) side chains. Mutanase (␣1,3-glucanase, EC 3.2.1.59) and dextranase (␣1,6-glucanase, EC 3.2.1.11) enzymes could be beneficial additives to dentifrice preparations as it has been shown that these enzymes are capable of removing biofilms created by oral bacteria in vitro (4) and reducing plaque formation in vivo (5,6). Mutanase activity from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum was first described by Guggenheim and Haller (7).…”

An Antifungal Exo-α-1,3-Glucanase (AGN13.1) from the Biocontrol FungusTrichoderma harzianum

“…In addition to its possible medical applications against dental caries (17,20,24), important agricultural applications can be envisaged for this enzyme. Overexpression in recombinant T. harzianum could result in the generation of more effective biocontrol strains.…”

Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Type of Mutanase from Paenibacillus sp. Strain RM1: Identification of Its Mutan-Binding Domain, Essential for Degradation of Streptococcus mutans Biofilms

“…Mutanases were isolated and characterized biochemically, and some of them were tested regarding caries-preventive efficacy (14,15,19,21,22,35). However, mutanase RM1 can be readily differentiated from all of these previously reported enzymes as documented in the present study.…”