Innate Immunity and Disease Resistance in Aquatic Crustaceans

Aquatic crustaceans, including shrimps, crabs and crayfish, rely exclusively on innate immunity to counter a broad spectrum of pathogens in marine and freshwater environments. Their first line of defence is mediated by circulating haemocytes, which recognise microbial signatures via pattern recognition receptors and trigger cellular responses such as phagocytosis, encapsulation and nodulation. Humoral defences complement these actions through the rapid synthesis and release of antimicrobial peptides, activation of the prophenoloxidase cascade leading to melanisation around invading organisms, and the generation of reactive oxygen species to destroy microbial invaders. Barrier defences at the cuticle and gut epithelium also play critical roles in preventing pathogen ingress. Immune gene families, such as those encoding lectins, Toll‐like receptors and signalling molecules of the NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways, exhibit marked expansion and diversification across crustacean genomes, reflecting adaptive responses to microbial challenges. Crosstalk between microbiome composition and host immunity is increasingly recognised, with indigenous bacterial communities modulating susceptibility to disease. Environmental stressors, including temperature fluctuations, salinity shifts and pollution, can compromise innate responses and predispose crustaceans to epizootics. Advances in transcriptomics, functional genomics and gene editing are shedding light on the molecular underpinnings of disease resistance and paving the way for selective breeding and immunostimulant development. The global importance of crustacean aquaculture and the rising incidence of viral, bacterial and fungal outbreaks underscore the urgency of understanding innate immune mechanisms to enhance sustainability and biosecurity.

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Innate Immunity and Disease Resistance in Aquatic Crustaceans publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in innate immunity and disease resistance in aquatic crustaceans across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Haemocyte: circulating immune cell in crustaceans responsible for pathogen recognition, phagocytosis and nodulation.

Antimicrobial peptide (AMP): small, cationic molecule produced by the host that disrupts microbial membranes and inhibits pathogen growth.

Prophenoloxidase cascade: enzymatic pathway leading to melanin formation around pathogens, facilitating encapsulation and wound healing.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): highly reactive molecules generated by haemocytes to oxidise and destroy invading microbes.

Pattern recognition receptor (PRR): host protein that detects conserved microbial motifs and initiates immune signalling.

Phagocytosis: cellular uptake and digestion of pathogens by immune cells.

Nrf2 pathway: transcriptional programme controlling antioxidant gene expression and redox homeostasis in response to oxidative stress.

References

1. Integration of microbiome and Koch’s postulates to reveal multiple bacterial pathogens of whitish muscle syndrome in mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. Microbiome (2023).
2. Shrimp Virus Regulates ROS Dynamics via the Nrf2 Pathway to Facilitate Viral Replication. Advanced Science (2025).
3. PcTrim prevents early infection with white spot syndrome virus by inhibiting AP1-induced endocytosis. Cell Communication and Signaling (2023).