Immunological Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Aquatic Organisms

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) penetrates aquatic environments and interacts with biological tissues, triggering a cascade of cellular and molecular events that compromise the immune defences of fish, crustaceans and other marine organisms. Exposure to UVB wavelengths can induce direct DNA damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis in epithelial cells of skin, gills and mucosal surfaces. These insults weaken the innate immune system by reducing the activity of antimicrobial enzymes, perturbing cytokine signalling and altering the composition of mucus-associated immune factors. Chronic or acute UVR exposure also shifts gene expression profiles in barrier tissues, down-regulating growth factors while up-regulating pro-inflammatory pathways. The cumulative effect is a heightened susceptibility to pathogens, impaired wound healing and diminished resilience under additional environmental stressors. Understanding these immunological disruptions is crucial for managing wild populations, optimising aquaculture husbandry and predicting ecosystem responses to changes in stratospheric ozone and water clarity.

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Immunological Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Aquatic Organisms publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in immunological effects of ultraviolet radiation on aquatic organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR): Electromagnetic radiation in the 100–400 nm range, subdivided into UVA, UVB and UVC, capable of inducing photochemical damage in living tissues.

Innate immunity: The non-specific first line of defence against pathogens, comprising physical barriers, cellular responses and soluble factors such as antimicrobial peptides and enzymes.

Oxidative stress: A state of imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defences, leading to biomolecular damage and inflammation.

Transcriptome: The complete set of RNA transcripts expressed in a cell or tissue at a given time, analysed to reveal changes in gene-expression patterns.

Toll-like receptor: A class of pattern-recognition receptors that detect conserved microbial motifs and activate innate immune signalling cascades.

References

1. Transcriptional changes in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) skin in response to ultraviolet B radiation exposure. Frontiers in Marine Science (2022).
2. The Effects of Different UVA Photoperiods on the Growth Performance, Immune Responses, Antioxidant Status and Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression of the Pacific White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Antibiotics (2021).
3. Evaluation of UV-B Ameliorating Properties of Indigenous Plants Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (Dunal), Amla Emblica officinalis (Gaertn), and Prickly Chaff Flower Achyranthes aspera (L.) Supplemented Diets in Prior UV-B Exposed Catla catla. Frontiers in Marine Science (2022).