The Composition of Mucus in Freshwater Fishes: A Comparative Study

Authors

H.D. Kaher

Abstract

Fish epidermal mucus provides the first line of defense against pathogens. The present work reports on the comparative study of variation in mucous composition and defense markers among some of the fresh water fishes mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Aristicthys nobilis) snake head (Channa punctatus), walking catfish (Clarius batrachus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with respect to their role in innate immune system. The defense markers analyzed include activities of protease, lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in epidermal mucous. Among the samples, protease (1.228±0.01 U/mg) and acid phosphatase (1.06±0.06 U/mg) activities were quite high in grass carp; the total protein (0.313±0.0543 mg/gm), carbohydrate (0.127±0.0016 mg/gm), triglyceride (1.3075±0.0185), alkaline phosphatase activity (0.486±0.003 U/mg) and shear viscosity (100.84 mPa.s) were found to be highest in snake head; and lysozyme activity (5.68±0.09 U/mg) was found to be higher in tilapia in comparison to other fishes. The mucus samples have not demonstrated antimicrobial activity against selected human pathogenic bacteria and further analysis is required. The protein analysis of mucous samples by SDS-PAGE have shown expression of low molecular weight proteins mainly 93 kDa, 65 kDa, 41 kDa, 27 kDa and 21 kDa in snake head; 64 kDa, 36 kDa and 12 kDa in walking cat fish; and 69 kDa, 63 kDa, 33 kDa, 22 kDa and 14 kDa in tilapia.

Keywords

Mucus, Snake Head Fish

The Composition of Mucus in Freshwater Fishes: A Comparative Study. H.D. Kaher. 2018. IJIRCT, Volume 4, Issue 3. Pages 78-84. https://www.ijirct.org/viewPaper.php?paperId=1801014