FISH MUCUS - AN IDEAL ADHESIVE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONMr

Abstract

Fish skin contains a variety of humoral defense lysins which play an integral role in fish immunity and serve as the primary barrier between internal and external environment. This barrier consists of mucus and epidermal cell layers and contains a variety of active factors in the primary defense. Since fish are habitually surrounded by water, both the mucus and the active factors are no sooner secreted on the skin that dispensed into the surrounding water. The skin mucus lysins comprise bacteriolysins, proteolysins and haemolysins. The mucus is sticky and acts as a synthetic paste or adhesive. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to explore the possibilities of using fish mucus as an adhesive in building construction activities. It is said that many of the old churches in Travancore – Cochin with arches and domes were built using Channastriata mucus. A normal method of preparing large quantities of mucus and mixing it with sand and bricks is outlined. A comparative study of the mucus secretion of the various air-breathing species like Clariasgariepnus, Anguilla bengalensis, Channastriata, C. maruilusandHeteropneustesfossilis reveals that Clariasgariepnus is an ideal candidate to obtain maximum quantity of mucus under laboratory conditions. Experiments with fish slime or mucus show that it is excellent in giving extra strength in the construction of big buildings.