ISSN: 2279 - 0594 Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Available Online at www.jbpr.in CODEN: - JBPRAU (Source: - American Chemical Society) Index Copernicus Value: 63.24 PubMed (National Library of Medicine): ID: (101671502) Volume 6, Issue 1: January-February: 2017, 32-38 Research Article *Corresponding author: Dr. Amit Gupta | E-mail: amitvsbt@gmail.com; amitgupta@vsbt.res.in 32 32 EXPLORATION OF MUCIN PROTEIN FROM MACROCHLYMUS INDICA AND DETERMINED ITS IMMUNOGENICITY STUDIES Shweta P Karne 1 , Amit Gupta 2, 3* , Sumesh Shah 1 , Sanjay Kamble 1 , Bharat Shinde 1,2, 3 1 Department of Microbiology, Vidya Pratishthan’s, Arts, Science and Commerce College, Baramati, Maharashtra, India 2 Department of Zoology, Vidya Pratishthan’s, Arts, Science and Commerce College, Baramati, Maharashtra, India 3 Department of Immunology and Virology, Vidya Pratishthan’s School of Biotechnology (VSBT, Research Centre affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University), Baramati, Maharashtra, India Received 20 Dec. 2016; Accepted 16 Jan. 2017 ABSTRACT Introduction – Mucins are included under the category of high molecular weight (i.e. O-glycosylated) proteins which plays a crucial role with respect to protection, lubrication and acid resistance of the epithelial cell surface. In an effort to examine its mucin protein extracted from abdominal region of snail mucus i.e. Macrochlymus indica and determined its immunogenicity potential against rubella vaccine antigen. Methods- For these studies, we determined the protein content from snail mucus (Macrochlymus indica) using Nanodrop method. In addition, indirect ELISA was performed using rubella vaccine (live attenuated vaccine) as coating antigen and determined its antibody (IgG) titre using variable doses of mucin protein and also determined its total cellular content including proliferation rate in human whole blood against rubella vaccine antigen. Results- The results showed that mucin protein showed rapid enhancement in antibody (IgG)titre at lower doses(624 µg) but also showed some enhancement with respect to total cellular content including proliferation rate (312 µg and 624 µg) as compared to control and standard i.e. rubella vaccine. Conclusion-Overall, this study suggests that mucin protein of Macrochlymus indica showed immunogenic potential against rubella vaccine antigen. Keywords: Immunogenicity; Macrochlymus indica; mucin; Nanodrop; ELISA INTRODUCTION: Vaccine, biological preparation that improves immunity against particular pathogen or disease. Normally, vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed form of the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins [1, 2]. In general, vaccines may be prophylactic or therapeutic and is able tostimulate the body’s immune system and is able to recognize and eliminated infectious agent from our immune system [1-3]. Snails belongs to theKingdom Animalia, class Gastropoda [4]. Gastropods are able to adapt to a variety of living conditions and they do not require large amounts of food. Gastropods belong to phylum Mollusca, classification of invertebrate animals with soft unsegmented body, sometime covered with a shell which is made up of calcium carbonate [5, 6]. Snails move by gliding along with their muscular foot, lubricated with mucus and it is covered with epithelial cilia. They secrete mucus externally to keep their soft bodies from drying out. Snails are hermaphrodites, means that they have the reproductive organs of both sexes on them. The average life span of a snail is approx. 10 to 15 years. There are 1488 species of land gastropods (species of snails & slugs) [4-7]. Mucus is a viscous, slimy mixture of glycoprotein such as mucins, water, immunoglobulins inorganic salts etc. A major function of mucus is to protect against infectious agents such as fungus, bacteria and viruses. Mucin are a diverse family of densely glycosylated proteins [8, 9].Mucin domains within the protein core are totally rich in amino acids (i.e.