Topic Editors

Dr. Hongliang Zuo
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Prof. Dr. Jiejie Sun
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology & Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
Dr. Linwei Yang
State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Immunology and Disease Prevention and Control in Aquatic Animals

Abstract submission deadline
31 May 2026
Manuscript submission deadline
31 August 2026
Viewed by
256

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture plays a crucial role in supplying the global population with high-quality animal protein. Currently, the leading aquaculture species include fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and sea cucumbers. In recent years, the demand for aquatic products has been increasing. Driven by profits, the density of aquaculture is rising, and the pressure on the aquaculture environment is intensifying, which leads to frequent outbreaks of diseases among aquatic animals. Research on the immunology of aquatic animals significantly contributes to resolving disease-related issues. Disease outbreaks typically arise from an imbalance between the host, pathogen, and environment.

In response, various products, such as Chinese herbs, beneficial microorganisms, immune enhancers, and feed additives, have been developed to prevent and control diseases in aquaculture. These technologies have demonstrated some success in disease prevention and control. Additionally, the development of fish vaccines is of great importance, as it reduces the reliance on antibiotics and improves the quality and safety of aquatic products. Breeding for disease resistance has emerged as an effective strategy for disease prevention and control in aquaculture.

However, the pathogenesis of many emerging and common pathogens remains poorly understood. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying aquatic animal immunity against infections are still being elucidated. Moreover, the role of pathogen–host–environment interactions in disease occurrence and the mechanisms driving these interactions require further investigation.

We welcome prospective authors to contribute Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles covering, but not limited to, the following subtopics:

  1. The mechanisms of the pathogen–host–environment interactions;
  2. Molecular mechanisms underlying host immunity responses to infection;
  3. Escape mechanism of pathogen avoidance innate immunity;
  4. New therapeutic strategies for pathogen infections in aquatic animals;
  5. Research on epidemic disease prevention, control, and immunity regulation in aquatic animals.

Dr. Hongliang Zuo
Prof. Dr. Jiejie Sun
Dr. Linwei Yang
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • aquatic animals
  • pathogens
  • pathogen–host–environment interactions
  • therapeutics
  • immune regulation

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Animals
animals
2.7 5.2 2011 17.7 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Antioxidants
antioxidants
6.6 12.4 2012 17.4 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Fishes
fishes
2.4 3.0 2016 20.9 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Biology
biology
3.5 7.4 2012 17.4 Days CHF 2700 Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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12 pages, 3285 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Tolerance of Spotted Longbarbel Catfish as a Candidate Species for Aquaculture to Ammonia Nitrogen Exposure
by Song Guo, Linwei Yang and Xiaopeng Xu
Animals 2025, 15(14), 2035; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142035 - 10 Jul 2025
Abstract
The spotted longbarbel catfish, Hemibagrus guttatus, a nationally protected Class II species in China, faces increasing threats from habitat degradation. Recently, the spotted longbarbel catfish has gained attention as a promising aquaculture species, not only for its premium flesh quality but also [...] Read more.
The spotted longbarbel catfish, Hemibagrus guttatus, a nationally protected Class II species in China, faces increasing threats from habitat degradation. Recently, the spotted longbarbel catfish has gained attention as a promising aquaculture species, not only for its premium flesh quality but also for its potential role in conservation through sustainable captive breeding programs. Ammonia nitrogen (ammonia-N) is a ubiquitous byproduct of intensive farming and serves as the primary environmental stressor confronting aquatic species. Elucidating the ammonia-N tolerance of spotted longbarbel catfish constitutes a critical prerequisite for its successful domestication, which is the aim of this study. We demonstrate that ammonia-N stress significantly decreases the survival rate of spotted longbarbel catfish and induces tissue damage, including gill lamella proliferation, hepatocyte blurring, and renal necrosis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ammonia-N stress promotes the expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, heat-shock proteins, immune response, and apoptosis, while inhibiting antioxidant-related genes and Wnt-related genes. Enzymatic assays indicate that ammonia-N stress inhibits the activities of multiple antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT, GSH, GSH-Px, and T-AOC. Microbiome analysis showed that ammonia-N stress altered the intestinal microbial community by increasing harmful bacteria (e.g., Vibrio and Aeromonas) and suppressing beneficial bacteria (e.g., Cetobacterium and Lactococcus). These findings highlight the comprehensive negative impacts of ammonia-N on the health of the spotted longbarbel catfish and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing aquaculture conditions to support the sustainable protection and domestication of the spotted longbarbel catfish. Full article
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