Innate Immune Mechanisms in Teleost Fish
Summary
Teleost fish possess a sophisticated innate immune system that operates at multiple levels to detect and eliminate invading pathogens. Physical and chemical barriers, including mucus layers on skin, gill and gut epithelia, provide an immediate protective shield. Underlying these surfaces, specialised cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic-like cells and rodlet cells sense and engulf microbes. Pattern recognition receptors—among them Toll-like receptors and NOD-like receptors—bind conserved microbial motifs and trigger intracellular signalling cascades that culminate in the production of cytokines, chemokines and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Soluble effectors such as complement proteins, lectins and antimicrobial peptides further neutralise pathogens and promote clearance. Mucosal-associated lymphoid structures integrate innate and emerging adaptive responses, ensuring both rapid response and long-term protection. Together, these components form an interdependent network that underpins host defence, disease resistance in aquaculture and the ecological resilience of wild fish populations.
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Innate Immune Mechanisms in Teleost Fish publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in innate immune mechanisms in teleost fish across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pattern recognition receptor (PRR): A germline-encoded receptor that recognises conserved microbial molecules to initiate innate immune signalling.
Toll-like receptor (TLR): A class of PRRs that detect extracellular or endosomal pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activate inflammatory pathways.
Phagocyte: A specialised cell, such as a macrophage or neutrophil, that engulfs and digests pathogens and debris.
Antimicrobial peptide (AMP): A small, cationic molecule that disrupts microbial membranes and contributes to rapid pathogen killing.
Complement system: A cascade of soluble proteins that opsonise pathogens, form membrane attack complexes and recruit immune cells to sites of infection.
References
- Teleost innate immunity, an intricate game between immune cells and parasites of fish organs: who wins, who loses. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- The Biological Functions and Intestinal Inflammation Regulation of IL-21 in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) during Infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. Cells (2023).
- Identification and functional characterization of fish IL-17 receptors suggest important roles in the response to nodavirus infection. Marine Life Science & Technology (2024).
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