HAYATI Journal of Biosciences
Vol. 18 No. 1 (2011): March 2011

The human feet and mouth are known as sources of methylated sulfides, which are produced by other microflora. Methylated sulfides could be oxidized by methylotrophic bacteria, which may result in odor reduction in human feet and mouth. In this study, we collected a total of 21 isolates from human feet, and 37 isolates from human mouth. These isolates were identified with biochemical test such as oxidase and catalase test and Gram staining assay. The presence of mxaF gene of methanol dehydrogenas

DIANA ELIZABETH WATURANGI (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)
CATHERINE DELANY NICHOLAS (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)
CINDY OKTAVIA SUSANTO (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)
MAGGY THENAWIJAYA SUHARTONO (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 May 2011

Abstract

The human feet and mouth are known as sources of methylated sulfides, which are produced by other microflora. Methylated sulfides could be oxidized by methylotrophic bacteria, which may result in odor reduction in human feet and mouth. In this study, we collected a total of 21 isolates from human feet, and 37 isolates from human mouth. These isolates were identified with biochemical test such as oxidase and catalase test and Gram staining assay. The presence of mxaF gene of methanol dehydrogenase was detected by PCR using specific primers. However, the result showed that most of the isolates did not possess mxaF gene. Hence, the methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) activity was also determined. From the total 21 isolates obtained from the feet, only 15 of them showed MDH activity whereas 23 isolates from the total 37 isolates obtained from teeth and tongue region also showed MDH activity. Isolate K25-3 (74.444 U/ml), K33-6 (79.815 U/ml), and K43-5 (69.259 U/ml) from human feet and M41L3 (135.926 U/ml), M27G2 (85.556 U/ml), and M51G1 (103.333 U/ml) from human mouth showed the highest total enzyme activity. Isolates with the highest total activity could be used for further studies such as purification of the enzyme and isolates characterization.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

hayati

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Earth & Planetary Sciences

Description

HAYATI Journal of Biosciences (HAYATI J Biosci) publishes articles and short communication in tropical bioscience fields such as development, biotechnology, biodiversity and environmental issues. HAYATI J Biosci covers wide range of all life forms topics including virus, microbes, fungi, plants, ...