Screening of Antimicrobial activity of bodily fluid from three different local fish species around Madanapalle

Abstract

The fish skin acts as a protective shield against environments that are high in infectious agents. A thin layer of mucus which acts as a defence shield against colonization by aquatic parasites, bacteria and fungi which was mediated by peptides and polypeptides, was covered on the external body surface of the fish. In the present study, we had shown the activity of epidermal mucus of tap water, mineral water and saltwater fish exhibit strong antibacterial activity. Here, we have isolated supernatant of a fish Pamphlet (Pomfret), Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Catfish (Clariasgariepinus) mucus. This Bodily fluid (Fish mucus) activity was correlated with a strong antibacterial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration for the three fishes) against both Gram-ve and Gram +vebacteria. In this study, the mucus isolated shows an inhibiting effect on the selected microorganisms. The antibacterial activity of fish mucus may be due to the presence of antibacterial glycoproteins and able to kill bacteria by forming large pores in the target membrane. Fish mucus is believed to play an important role in the prevention of colonization by parasites, bacteria and fungi and thus acts as a chemical defence barrier. Our results suggest that fish secrete antibacterial which are able to kill bacteria in the target membrane.