EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE DEGRADING ENZYME AND USE OF THE SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to an exopolysaccharide degrading enzyme, to enzymatic compositions capable of degrading exopolysaccharides and in particular to the reduction or removal of biofilm on surfaces and to the prevention of biofilm formation on such surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of the enzyme and/or the enzymatic composition, comprising at least one exopolysaccharide degrading enzyme, for the reduction, removal and/or prevention of biofilm on surfaces of aqueous systems (water-bearing systems, fluid systems). The present invention further relates to a bacterial strain producing an exopolysaccharide degrading enzyme, and to the exopolysaccharide degrading enzyme prepared from a newly isolated strain of Streptomyces. Specifically, the exopolysaccharide degrading enzyme of the present invention is a colanic acid degrading enzyme.