Determining the Protective Effect of Epidermal Mucus in Some Persian Gulf Fishes against Pathogens

Due to the increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and side effects of chemical drugs, the tendency to use natural resources has increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of epidermal mucus in some fish of the Persian Gulf.

In the present laboratory study, mucus of 4 species of Netuma bilineata, Solea elongata, uryglossa orientalis and Muraenesox cinereus were collected according to Ross (2000) method. The antibacterial and antifungal activity was evaluated by disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate extract of mucus of 4 species of fish had more growth inhibitory effects against gram-negative bacteria than gram-positive bacteria, while the aqueous extract had no ability to inhibit the growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. In antifungal activity, the aqueous extract showed more growth inhibitory effects than ethyl acetate extract of mucus of 4 species of fish.

The results of this study can be promising for the use of fish mucus as a rich source for finding new antibacterial peptides for use in aquaculture and medicine.