Fish immunity is a critical area of study due to the ecological and economic importance of fish in aquatic ecosystems and aquaculture industries. Unlike mammals, fish possess unique immune systems that blend innate and adaptive responses, tailored to their aquatic environments. Immune organs like the spleen, kidney, and mucosal tissues, along with specialized cells and molecular pathways, play pivotal roles in pathogen defense.
The constant exposure of fish to diverse pathogens and environmental stressors, such as pollution, temperature fluctuations, and climate change, highlights the need to understand their immune adaptations. Recent advances in molecular tools and omics technologies have enabled deeper insights into immune gene diversity, cellular interactions, and tissue-specific responses in fish.
Exploring these aspects provides not only fundamental knowledge but also practical applications for disease prevention and management in aquaculture. This Research Topic aims to highlight these developments, bridging basic science and applied immunology.

Fish are constantly exposed to diverse pathogens and environmental stressors, presenting significant challenges to their immune systems. Despite their ecological and economic importance, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fish immunity remain less explored compared to terrestrial vertebrates. Understanding how fish immune systems adapt to pathogens and environmental changes is essential for improving disease management and health outcomes, particularly in aquaculture, where disease outbreaks lead to substantial economic losses.
Key challenges include elucidating the roles of immune cells and tissues, such as mucosal barriers, spleen, and kidney, in pathogen recognition and response. Additionally, the impact of environmental factors—temperature shifts, pollution, and hypoxia—on immune function requires comprehensive investigation. Recent advances in transcriptomics, proteomics, and single-cell analyses provide powerful tools to dissect immune processes at unprecedented resolution.
To address these gaps, this Research Topic seeks to explore cellular and molecular dynamics in fish immunity, with an emphasis on tissue-specific responses, immune gene diversity, and interactions between immune cells and their microenvironments. Contributions may include original research, reviews, and case studies focusing on immune adaptations, novel biomarkers, or strategies to mitigate the effects of environmental stressors. By integrating recent advances, we aim to enhance understanding and application of fish immunology in ecological and aquaculture settings.

We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

• Immune Cells and Tissues
• Evolution of immune responses in aquatic ecosystems
• Innate and Adaptive Immunity
• Environmental Influences and Immune Adaptation
• Genomic and Proteomic Insights
• Host-pathogen interactions in aquatic environments
• Comparative Immunology
• Stress-Immune Interactions
• Antimicrobial Peptides and Molecules
• Epigenetics and Immune Regulation in fish.

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Frontiers in Immunology

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