From the perspective of modulating antibacterial immune responses and vaccine adjuvants application in teleost fishes: Exploring the prospects of chemokines in aquaculture

Abstract

Aquatic environments expose fishes to a wide range of pathogens, emphasizing the crucial role of their immune system. Chemokines are key mediators that bridge innate and adaptive immunity by regulating immune cell activity. As essential components of immune defense, immune cells play a central role in recognizing and eliminating pathogens. In mammals, chemokines exhibit direct antimicrobial activity and can enhance vaccine efficacy as molecular adjuvants. However, these functions remain insufficiently explored and summarized in teleost fishes, limiting their practical use in aquaculture. Given the evolutionary conservation of immune systems and chemokine families between teleost fishes and mammals, it is likely that chemokines have conserved functions across these vertebrates. This review systematically examines the roles of chemokines in regulating the functions of immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, and B cells) in teleost fishes, and explores their potential application as direct antimicrobial agents and vaccine adjuvants in aquaculture, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of aquatic diseases.