EXPLORATION OF SNAILS FROM CLASS GASTROPODA AND STUDIED ITS MICROBIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF MACROCHLYMUS INDICA

Introduction:Gastropods represent a group of animals referred as snails or slugs. Around 62,000 species and 13,000 genera of gastropods that are reported throughout the world. Recently, number of species will exceed more than 150,000 species. One of the most diverse group i.e. Gastropods under phylum mollusc that are extremely varied in morphology (shape), feeding behavior, reproductive strategies, habitat range and size. They have the widest range of ecological niches of all molluscs. Gastropods are among the oldest known fossils, with their shells being found in rocks dating 540 million years ago. Most of these species that are reported till now that remained unchanged for over 350 million years. Objective:In the present study, we focused on various snails that are found in fresh and marine water including terrestrial places. In continuation of these studies, our group focused on mucin protein extracted from one of these terrestrial snails i.e. Macrochlymus indica and studied its microbiological (antimicrobial) and biochemical (amino acid estimation) aspects. Methods:In this study, we examined biochemical parameters (protein, Nanodrop method and amino acids profile, Bradford reagent) in mucin protein and also estimated its antimicrobial activity using bacterial and fungal strains. Results: Mucin showed the presence of protein including rich amount of amino acids i.e. valine, serine and leucine. In addition, mucin at higher concentration showed its antimicrobial activity against these bacterial and fungal strains. Conclusion: Overall the results of mucin showed its antimicrobial activity and this activity could be due to the presence of rich amount of protein and amino acids i.e. valine, serine and leucine. Key words: Gastropods; mollusc; Macrochlymus indica; microbiological; biochemical