Fish slime offers a source of potential new antibiotics

Apr 02, 2019

New Delhi, Apr 02 (ANI): Scientists have identified that fish slime, protective mucus that coats young fish, could be a source of potential new antibiotics. The result of the research were presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. A team identified bacteria with promising antibiotic activity against known pathogens, even dangerous organisms, such as the microbe that causes MRSA infections, in the protective mucus that coats young fish. "For us, any microbe in the marine environment that could provide a new compound is worth exploring," said Sandra Loesgen, the group's principal investigator. According to Loesgen, while novel chemical reagents have been found in the human microbiome, the marine equivalent remains relatively unstudied. One potential goldmine of microbes is the mucus that coats the surfaces of fish. This viscous substance protects fish from bacteria, fungi, and viruses in their environment, trapping the microbes before they can cause infections. The slime is also rich in polysaccharides and peptides are known to have antibacterial activity.