Biosensor for welfare immunotracing in fish mucus.

Abstract

The invention relates an electrochemical biosensor for the quantification and endpoints use of Chrysophsin-1, -2 and -3 as biomarkers of welfare statute of lish. The innovation lies in a real time non-destructive method for the first stage alert of microbial infection or stress in fish, without prior extraction on the collected mucus. The approach being the monitoring of fish welfare. Thus, we have already demonstrated for the first time that the secretion of the antimicrobial peptides Chrysophsin-1, - 2 and -3 are an accurate marker for the fish welfare status, which is directly affected in the event of stress, disease or risk of infection by viruses, bacteria or parasites. Here we have built a biosensor capable of tracking and quantifying and storing the variations in the secretion levels of Chrysophsins. The method can be used as a point of care biosensor offering real-time secretion levels of Chrysophsins in mucus. The invention is also related to biosensor coatings including specific polyclonal antibody against the conserved Cterminus of Chrysophsin-1, -2 and -3 peptides. In some embodiments coating composition comprises a tether covalently attached to a polyclonal antibody anti-Chrysophsins; the tether allows the antibody to bind to the antimicrobial peptide present in the fish mucus. The polyclonal anti-Chrysophsin antibody is developed against the conserved C-terminus peptide of Chrysophsins-1, -2 and -3.