DefinePK

Abstract

The aim of this research was to detect Streptococcus sobrinus lytic bacteriophages from Caspian Sea. Dental plaque samples were collected and cultured in Brain Heart Infusion Broth. The Caspian Sea water was filtered through a 0.45 m membrane filter, added to Streptococcus sobrinus and cultured in Brain Heart Infusion Agar. Plaque forming assay suggested the presence of specific bacteriophages in sample. The first isolated bacteriophage for Streptococcus sobrinus was hexagonal in shape with approximately 70-98 nm in diameter that was most probably related to family Cystoviridae of bacteriophages. Another lytic bacteriophage was droplet-shape with a core and a coat measuring 75-81.25 nm in diameter and 93.75-100 nm in length that was most probably related to Guttaviridae of bacteriophages. Detection of new lytic phages for a gram positive bacterium and their applications for phage therapy of dental plaque could be considered as the significance and impact of the present study.