Snail Secret Slime: Uncovering the Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Power of Mucin
Edgar Fernandez
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology
Major: BS.BIO/CELL/MOLEC
Faculty Research Mentor: Bendaoud, Meriem
Abstract:
Bacteria are constantly adapting to their environments, increasing their ability to resist antibiotics. This growing challenge highlights the need to identify new antimicrobial compounds naturally produced by microorganisms and other living organisms to improve the effectiveness of modern treatments. The Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) secretes mucin that is commonly used in skin care for its rejuvenating properties, yet its antimicrobial potential remains underexplored. This study investigated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of mucin extract from A. fulica, as well as an antimicrobial compound produced by an unknown soil microorganism. The snail mucin extract was tested against a panel of 20 bacterial strains and two fungal strains using a 96-well plate broth assay, 24-well plate spot assay, and biofilm assay to evaluate its effect on growth and biofilm formation. The unknown soil microorganism was also tested for antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria using a streak inhibition assay. Results showed that snail mucin significantly reduced the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. It also reduced biofilm formation in Streptococcus oralis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The unknown microorganism displayed promising inhibition of growth in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These findings demonstrate that natural compounds from organisms such as snails and soil bacteria possess antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties that may contribute to addressing the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Future studies will focus on identifying the unknown microorganism and isolating and characterizing the active compounds from A. fulica.