Immune responses in fishes In: Winter School on Vistas in Marine Biotechnology 5th to 26th October 2010

George, K C (2010) Immune responses in fishes In: Winter School on Vistas in Marine Biotechnology 5th to 26th October 2010. [Teaching Resource]

Text Vistas in Marine Biotechnology_2010_Chp 43.pdf Download (178kB)

Abstract

The term immunity means exemption. The meaning originated from exemption granted to certain citizens in the case of compulsory military services. This term was further extended to the disease resistance seen in people recovered from epidemic diseases. This knowledge led to the development of small pox vaccine by Edward Jenner in1798. In animals, the mechanism for self-recognition and non-self discrimination evolved some 400 million years ago and continues as the basic immune response mechanisms. The basic pattern of protein molecules involved in the self/nonself-recognition remained without much alteration, while the diversification of these molecules to suit the emerging challenges was super imposed. We have several examples of self recognition in invertebrates. Aggregation of dispersed colonies of sponges is regulated by species-specific surface glycoproteins. Failure of adhesion of unrelated species amounts to a primitive graft rejection. The cells lining the cavity of sponges are able to capture microorganisms. In the insect larval metamorphosis, phagocytosis of dead and disintegrated cells occurs by the same mechanism. Sea stars and corals reject grafts from unrelated forms. The same mechanism enables fertilization of ova in marine fishes and other organism by the spermatozoa of same species. Hence, the self-recognition mechanism enables the millions of species to maintain their integrity, while excluding invasion of their body from align cells and changed self- constituents (mutated cells including neoplastic cells).

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