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International Journal of Cheminformatics Review Article

Antimicrobial Peptides in Fiddler Crabs: Structural Analysis and Potential Applications

  1. Sheshmani Tiwari Department of Biochemical Engineering, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow

Abstract

Crustaceans represent the largest and most ecologically and economically significant group of marine and aquatic arthropods. Their biomass and critical role in ecosystems highlight their importance. Among crustaceans, decapods are frequently used as model organisms in studies of immune responses due to their significant commercial value and the need to mitigate disease outbreaks in shellfish aquaculture. Antimicrobial host-defense peptides (AMPs) are pivotal in metazoan immunity, especially for invertebrates lacking adaptive immune systems. These peptides exhibit potent neutralizing actions against various pathogens, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Beyond their antimicrobial functions, AMPs also regulate immune components during host-pathogen interactions. This study focuses on crustin, an antimicrobial protein from fiddler crabs, with sequences obtained in FASTA format from the NCBI database. Structural and functional analyses predict wide-ranging medical applications. The modeled protein structures were verified using Procheck software.

Keywords

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