Gururaj Moorthy

Mr. Gururaj Moorthy

Food Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 June 2024 in Fishes
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DSDeep Nithun Senathipathi
Deep Nithun Senathipathi
Soottawat BenjakulSoottawat Benjakul
Soottawat Benjakul
PSPhutthipong Sukkapat
Phutthipong Sukkapat
MDMatsapume Detcharoen
Matsapume Detcharoen
GMGururaj Moorthy
Gururaj Moorthy
JSJirakrit Saetang
Jirakrit Saetang
Seafood mislabeling threatens customer rights and causes economic loss worldwide. The information on seafood misrepresentation in Thailand is still lacking, and the investigation and monitoring program must be well established. This study investigated the mislabeling status of imported seafood in Thailand using the DNA barcoding technique. A total of 45 imported seafood products from five distributors were included. Scientific, common, local, and market names of seafood samples were obtained from FAO and Fishbase databases. DNA was extracted, and PCR was performed using a universal primer targeting the COI gene. Species of each sample were identified with over 98% similarity based on COI sequence analysis. DNA sequence revealed 11 mislabeled samples. Among substituted species, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Thunnus maccoyii were found to be endangered species according to IUCN status. Products obtained from Brand-C showed the highest mislabeling rate (42.85%). The phylogenetic analysis adopted with the TIM2+F+I+G4 model showed the sequenced DNA similar to the NCBI database reference sequence. Overall, mislabeled products of imported seafood were found at the rate of 24.44%, suggesting that strict surveillance for seafood substitution should be implemented in Thailand.

2 July 2024 in Food Control
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GMGururaj Moorthy
Gururaj Moorthy
SBSoottawat Benjakul
Soottawat Benjakul
PSPhutthipong Sukkapat
Phutthipong Sukkapat
DSDeep Nithun Senathipathi
Deep Nithun Senathipathi
JSJirakrit Saetang
Jirakrit Saetang

17 March 2025 in Food Control
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GMGururaj Moorthy
Gururaj Moorthy
KBKittisak Buddhachat
Kittisak Buddhachat
SBSoottawat Benjakul
Soottawat Benjakul
MDMatsapume Detcharoen
Matsapume Detcharoen
JSJirakrit Saetang
Jirakrit Saetang


24 June 2025 in Journal of Food Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GMGururaj Moorthy
Gururaj Moorthy
Soottawat BenjakulSoottawat Benjakul
Soottawat Benjakul
PKPanatda Khrueakaew
Panatda Khrueakaew
DSDeep Nithun Senathipathi
Deep Nithun Senathipathi
JSJirakrit Saetang
Jirakrit Saetang

27 February 2026 in Biosensors
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JSJirakrit Saetang
Jirakrit Saetang
MSMaturada Saengthong
Maturada Saengthong
Soottawat BenjakulSoottawat Benjakul
Soottawat Benjakul
GMGururaj Moorthy
Gururaj Moorthy
New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a premium seafood product that may be substituted with morphologically similar mussels after shucking and cooking, particularly Asian green mussel (Perna viridis). This study developed a rapid, on-site duplex recombinase-aided amplification–lateral flow dipstick (dRAA–LFD) assay to authenticate P. canaliculus and differentiate it from P. viridis. Species-specific primers were designed from mitochondrial COI alignment and combined in a dRAA reaction. Reaction conditions were optimized at 37–42 °C and 15–60 min. Specificity was assessed against 11 non-target seafood species, and sensitivity was evaluated using 2-fold serial dilutions. The assay was further validated using DNA from boiled (85 °C, 5–15 min), steamed (105 °C, 10–30 min), and fried (185 °C, 30–90 s) mussels, and 15 restaurant products labeled as New Zealand mussel dishes. Optimal performance was achieved at 40 °C for 30 min, with no cross-reactivity. The LFD detection limits were 0.05 ng/reaction for P. viridis and 0.2–0.1 ng/reaction for P. canaliculus. All cooked samples remained identifiable, and commercial testing classified 13/15 products as P. canaliculus and 2/15 as P. viridis. Overall, the dRAA–LFD assay enables rapid, equipment-light authentication of cooked mussel products for routine screening.