| Methylotrophic bacteria are capable for growth using one-carbon compounds as well as on wide range of multi-carbon substrates. Methylated sulphides are one of the C1 compound groups in human mouth that could be used by methlotrophic bacteria. Methanol dehydrogenase from methylotrophic bacteria are suggested to have potential ability to reduce the odour in human mouth which is caused by methylated sulphides. In this study, a total of 37 isolates of methylotrophic bacteria were successfully isolated from teeth and tongue regions of 55 subjects lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. These isolates were identified with biochemical assays such as oxidase, catalase test and Gram staining. To examine the presence of mxaF gene in the isolates, amplification of the gene by PCR using specific primers were conducted. Furthermore, methylotrophic bacteria were screened for their methanol dehydrogenase activity. From 37 isolates, only 23 isolates were shown to have methanol dehydrogenase activity. Isolate M41L3, M51G1 and M27G2 were shown to have the highest total enzyme activity. |