Teleost fish immunology. review

Abstract

Bony fishes possess immune systems capable of humoral and cellular responses, both innate and specific, essentially, defense systems of teleost fishes have the same components as vertebrate defense systems, which they antecede evolutionarily. This review describes the components of teleost immune systems, emphasizing particularities present in fish but not in mammals, whose defensive mechanisms are known in greater detail. The study of fish immunity is relevant for both basic and applied purposes. On the one hand, knowledge of fish immunology is important to elucidate the origin and evolution of the immune system of higher vertebrates. On the practical side, although some commercial vaccines are available to protect fishes against viruses and bacteria, rising knowledge of fish immunology would enable increasing the yield and inocuity of aquaculture, through the development of novel methods of immune stimulation and vaccination.