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Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals

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A Special Issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888) belonging to the section "Welfare, Health and Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2026) | Viewed by 7106

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhitao Qi

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Guest Editor

College of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
Interests: aquaculture; innate immune; antibacterial immune response; immune signaling pathway
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Bei Huang

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Guest Editor

Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
Interests: aquaculture; innate immune; antiviral immune response; immune signaling pathway
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mingzhu Pan

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Guest Editor

College of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
Interests: aquaculture; fish nutrition and immunity; immune–metabolic regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture plays an increasingly central role in global food security, sustainable development, and ecosystem services. Ensuring the health of aquatic animals is therefore not only a biological necessity but a strategic priority for the long-term viability of aquaculture systems under increasing pressure from disease, environmental stressors, and climate change.

This Special Issue seeks to gather cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of the immune systems of fish and shellfish, while also addressing the broader environmental, technological, and socio-economic contexts in which aquaculture operates.

We particularly welcome contributions that bridge fundamental immunological science with practical applications in vaccine development, disease surveillance, and sustainable aquaculture management. Contributions that integrate interdisciplinary approaches—such as omics technologies, ecological immunology, and One Health frameworks—are strongly encouraged.

Scope of the Special Issue

We invite original research articles, short communications, and reviews addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:

Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Aquatic Animals:

Molecular and cellular mechanisms;
Immune ontogeny and organ development;
Immune memory and cross-species comparisons.

Host–Pathogen Interactions:

Pathogen evasion strategies;
Microbiome–immune system interactions;
Emerging and re-emerging aquatic diseases.

Innovations in Vaccine Development and Immunization Strategies:

Novel antigens, adjuvants, delivery systems (oral, immersion, nanoformulations);
Evaluation of vaccine efficacy under farm-like conditions;
Cost-effective strategies for low- and middle-income aquaculture systems.

Immunomodulation through Environmental and Nutritional Interventions:

Role of probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenics, and functional feeds;
Stress-induced immunosuppression (temperature, salinity, crowding);
Epigenetic regulation of immune functions.

New Technologies in Aquatic Immunology:

Use of omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics);
Bioinformatics and systems immunology approaches;
CRISPR and gene-editing strategies for resistance breeding.

Eco-Immunology and One Health Perspectives:

Impact of climate change and pollution on immune responses;
Zoonotic risks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquaculture;
Integrated health management at the animal–human–environment interface.

Socio-technical and Policy Dimensions of Aquatic Health:

Health governance in aquaculture;
Farmers’ knowledge and behavior regarding fish immunization;
Institutional frameworks for disease prevention.

Prof. Dr. Zhitao Qi
Prof. Dr. Bei Huang
Dr. Mingzhu Pan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

aquatic immunology
fish health
vaccine development
pathogen–host interaction
One Health
eco-immunology
aquaculture resilience
probiotics
climate stress
antimicrobial resistance
omics technologies

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Related Special Issue

Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals—2nd Edition in Fishes (1 article)

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 6051 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Elucidates the Effects of Three Dietary Additives on Growth and Antioxidant Function in Juvenile Rhinogobio ventralis

by Wen Chen, Zhenni Wu, Lin Luo, Min Guan, Xiaojuan Cao and Jian Gao

Fishes 2026, 11(7), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11070396 - 3 Jul 2026

Viewed by 342

Abstract

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the regulatory effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and thymopeptide (TH) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and metabolism of juvenile Rhinogobio ventralis. A control group (CON) and three treatment groups (COS, CGA, TH) were established, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were analyzed by transcriptomics and metabolomics. The results showed that dietary supplementation with COS, CGA, and TH significantly improved weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed utilization efficiency, with COS exhibiting the strongest growth-promoting effect. COS also significantly increased hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and decreased malondialdehyde content, indicating a marked antioxidant effect, whereas CGA and TH showed no significant effects on these parameters. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant differences in gene expression profiles among the groups, with commonly enriched pathways including the FoxO signaling pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Metabolomic analysis showed that the three additives significantly reshaped the hepatic metabolic profiles: COS mainly activated anabolic metabolism, CGA predominantly suppressed metabolism, and TH exhibited bidirectional regulation, with bile secretion, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, and the Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway commonly enriched in all three groups. Integrative KEGG pathway analysis based on transcriptomic and metabolomic predictions further identified the FoxO signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction as common targets shared by all three additives. In conclusion, COS, CGA, and TH improve the health status of R. ventralis through differential regulation of immune–metabolic networks. Among them, COS is the most suitable feed additive for growth promotion and antioxidant protection in this species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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11 pages, 2000 KB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Characterization of Group II Interferon, IFNc, in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Its Enhancement of Cell Viability Following Micropterus salmoides Rhabdovirus (MSRV) Infection

by Qihuan Zhang, Chang Wei, Jiashu Li, Yifei Wei, Jianfei Huang, Mingzhu Pan, Yang Xu and Zhitao Qi

Fishes 2026, 11(7), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11070376 - 24 Jun 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 435

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) play vital roles in antiviral immunity, yet the functional diversity of type I IFNs in teleosts remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized a group II type I interferon, designated IFNc (MsIFNc), from largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The cDNA sequence of MsIFNc is 660 bp in length, encoding a 184-amino-acid polypeptide containing a signal peptide and four conserved cysteines predicted to form two disulfide bonds. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed its classification within the teleost IFNc subgroup. Tissue expression profiling revealed constitutive MsIFNc transcription in all examined tissues, with the highest levels in the liver, intestine, and spleen. Moreover, MsIFNc expression was significantly upregulated in the spleen following polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) stimulation. Recombinant MsIFNc (rMsIFNc) was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and significantly enhanced the viability of primary hepatocytes infected with Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV). These results demonstrate that IFNc is an important component of the immune response in largemouth bass, providing a basis for understanding the function of fish IFNc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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14 pages, 3343 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Mytilus coruscus and Its Role in Methylation During Antibacterial Immunity

by Xuechun Wang, Chentenghong Yuan, Xirui Si, Pengzhi Qi and Bin Shen

Fishes 2026, 11(5), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11050296 - 15 May 2026

Viewed by 422

Abstract

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is broadly acknowledged as a central pro-inflammatory regulator, owing to its multifaceted functions including immune cell recruitment, initiation and amplification of pro-inflammatory cytokine cascades, enhancement of macrophage viability, facilitation of macrophage polarization toward a pro-inflammatory state, and attenuation of glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppression. However, functional investigations of MIF in Mytilus coruscus remain limited. In this study, we identified the MIF gene in M. coruscus, and bioinformatic analyses revealed that the gene encodes a 115-amino-acid polypeptide that exhibits close phylogenetic affinity with MIF homologs from other mollusks. McMIF was predominantly expressed in immune-related tissues, with notably high expression levels in the digestive gland. Upon Vibrio alginolyticus infection, both the mRNA and protein levels of McMIF were significantly upregulated, suggesting that McMIF is involved in the antibacterial immune response of M. coruscus. Meanwhile, the m6A modification level of McMIF was markedly reduced following infection, suggesting a potential relationship between m6A modification and the antibacterial immune function of MIF. Furthermore, knockdown of McMIF followed by LPS stimulation led to an increased level of apoptosis in digestive gland cells, suggesting that McMIF is involved in the inhibition of apoptosis induced by immune stimulation. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the immunological characteristics of McMIF in M. coruscus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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13 pages, 2853 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Potential Drug Target (Glycolysis Pathway) of the Spore Stage of the Pathogen Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei in Shrimp Farming

by Bo Zhu, Juan Feng, Dong Qian, Ping Zhuang, Changkao Mu, Jiong Chen and Rongrong Ma

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040229 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 896

Abstract

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a specialized parasitic microsporidian that causes significant economic losses to the shrimp farming industry. The glycolysis pathway plays an important role in the survival of EHP spores in vitro. In this study, key enzyme genes involved in the glycolysis pathway of EHP were analyzed, and purified spores were treated with KOH and a low temperature (−20 °C) to promote or inhibit germination. Quantitative analysis and enzyme activity of the initiating key gene hexokinase (HK) and the core link gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were conducted to explore the energy response characteristics of germinating spores. The results showed that HK and GAPDH genes had significant differences from the host, based on phylogenetic analysis. The expression of HK gene and enzyme activity increased after promoting germination treatment. The expression of the GAPDH gene was stable, but the activity of the GAPDH enzyme increased significantly after germination promotion. These findings indicate that the inhibition of the HK gene expression level and GAPDH protein level can block spore germination and invasion in vitro, which could be used as potential control targets for EHP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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12 pages, 4368 KB

Open AccessArticle

AjFOSL Modulates Cell Cycle-Related Genes Associated with Coelomocyte Regeneration in Apostichopus japonicus Evisceration

by Ran Xiao, Yinan Wang, Xiaoli Xu, Jiong Wu and Qiang Li

Fishes 2026, 11(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030185 - 20 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 480

Abstract

Apostichopus japonicus undergoes evisceration in response to adverse environmental stimuli, and its coelomocytes undergo rapid regeneration within 6–24 h to restore innate immune function. FOS, an immediate early gene, regulates cell proliferation and cycle, but its role in A. japonicus coelomocyte regeneration after evisceration is unclear. In this study, AjFOSL from A. japonicus was cloned, which harbors a 609 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 202 amino acids (aa) with a conserved bZIP domain and is localized on chromosome 14. It shares 58% homology with FOS from Holothuria leucospilota and Lytechinus pictus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AjFOSL clusters closely with FOS from Magallana gigas and Mytilus edulis. Tissue distribution analysis showed that AjFOSL was widely expressed in various tissues, with the highest expression level detected in the tentacles. Temporal expression profiling demonstrated that AjFOSL was significantly upregulated by 1.75-fold at 6 h after evisceration. After AjFOSL knockdown, the peak expression of Cyclin A, Cyclin B, and E2F was delayed and the coelomocyte number was consistently reduced compared with that in the evisceration-only group. The AjFOSL acted as an immediate early response gene and was associated with the regulation of coelomocyte regeneration by modulating the expression of cell cycle-related genes. This study provides novel insights into the molecular associations underlying coelomocyte regeneration and the evolutionary adaptation of FOS genes in echinoderms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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13 pages, 1762 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Application of Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting IgM in Pearl Gentian Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂)

by Xiaorui Qian, Jiong Wu, Jiamin Qiu, Yixin Li, Jialin Zhang, Xiaoli Xu, Yinan Wang and Qiang Li

Fishes 2026, 11(3), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030160 - 11 Mar 2026

Viewed by 775

Abstract

Viral and bacterial pathogen pathogens cause disease outbreaks that challenge the pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂) industry’s sustainable development. The lack of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) in this hybrid grouper impedes the development of non-lethal immunoassays for detecting pathogen infections, as well as research on immune responses following vaccination. We purified serum IgM from hybrid pearl gentian grouper and generated two mAbs—designated 41-H2-E1 and 62-E8-G9—against the purified IgM, finding that mAb 62-E8-G9 specifically recognized the IgM heavy chain, whereas mAb 41-H2-E1 specifically recognized the light chain. In indirect immunofluorescence assays, both mAbs reacted with surface Ig-positive (sIg⁺) lymphocytes. A double-antibody sandwich ELISA was subsequently established using mAb 62-E8-G9 as the capture antibody and HRP-conjugated mAb 41-H2-E1 as the detection antibody, enabling accurate quantification of serum IgM levels. Significant differences in IgM concentrations were observed between larger and smaller individuals (9.11 μg/mL vs. 3.84 μg/mL, p < 0.05). In immunostimulant administration experiments, both low-and high-dose groups exhibited approximately 2.0-fold higher IgM levels than the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, vaccination with inactivated vaccines did not result in statistically significant differences in total IgM levels. mAb 41-H2-E1 was further applied to detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus- and Vibrio harveyi-specific immunoglobulins in serum under different vaccination regimens. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the mAbs developed in this study served as reliable immunological tools for investigating immune function in hybrid pearl gentian grouper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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14 pages, 793 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Chia Seed Oil Enhances Growth, Immunological Response, and Disease Resistance Against Aeromonas hydrophila in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

by Ümit Acar, Osman Sabri Kesbiç, Sercan Yapıcı, Rifat Tezel, Gökçen Bilge, Ali Türker, Kenan Güllü, Hüseyin Serkan Erol, Funda Terzi, Beste Demirci and Daniela Giannetto

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010018 - 28 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1163

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chia seed oil (CSO; Salvia hispanica L.) on the growth performance, haematological-biochemical parameters, immune-related gene expression, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The fish were fed diets containing 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% CSO for 60 days. The results showed a significant improvement in final weight, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in fish fed diets containing 1% and 2% CSO compared to the control group. Haematocrit (Hct) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels increased in the CSO groups, while serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels decreased significantly, particularly in the 1% CSO group. The observed decrease in liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT) suggested a hepatoprotective effect of CSO. In the stress test with A. hydrophila, the highest survival rate (80%) was recorded in the 2% CSO group. Furthermore, gene expression analyses performed on spleen tissue revealed an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 in the groups fed with CSO, particularly at the 1% level. These findings indicate that adding 1–2% CSO to carp feed promotes growth, improves lipid metabolism, strengthens immune status, and increases resistance to bacterial infection. Consequently, the use of CSO as a sustainable and functional additive to fish oil in fish feed is suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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16 pages, 1126 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Isatis indigotica Extract Synergy on the Antioxidant Status, Inflammation, Autophagy, Apoptosis, and Intestinal Health of Larimichthys crocea Juveniles

by Zhichu Chen, Chao Zeng, Ai Wang, Huiyu Wang, Xin Zhi, Zhengbang Chen, Huiyuan Lv, Qiong Qi, Pan Wang, Jianchun Shao and Xinhua Chen

Fishes 2025, 10(11), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10110593 - 19 Nov 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1599

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the combined influence of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and Isatis indigotica extract (IIE) dietary supplements on oxidative-inflammatory status, cellular homeostasis, and intestinal integrity in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Three replicates of experimental fish (n = 160) received one of five dietary regimens: a basal control (CON) diet, the CON diet containing 0.1% APS (AP), and the AP diet supplemented with 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.15% IIE (AI1, AI2, and AI3) for 8 weeks. The combined supplements, particularly in the AI2 group, significantly improved intestinal morphology and enhanced the activities of key digestive enzymes. Gene expression analysis revealed that the APS-IIE combination consistently upregulated the intestinal mRNA abundance of major tight junction proteins (CLDN4, OCLN, ZO1, ZO2) compared to the CON or AP groups. Liver antioxidant capacity was strengthened (enhanced CAT capacity), as evidenced by a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (MDA) levels. In the head kidney, the combination downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL8, TNF) and toll-like receptors (TLR1, TLR2, TLR5), and promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL10, TGFB1). Furthermore, dietary supplementation modulated the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis, indicated by altered expression of key marker genes (e.g., increased MAP1LC3B and decreased CASP3/8/9). In conclusion, the simultaneous inclusion of APS and IIE in diets promotes intestinal health, strengthens antioxidant status, and alleviates inflammatory responses, with the 0.1% APS + 0.1% IIE (AI2) formulation demonstrating the most pronounced benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Immunology of Aquatic Animals)

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