An Introduction to Selected Innate Immune-Relevant Genes in Fish

especially that related to fish receives a great deal of attention because of its importance to science and economy. To illustrate, aquaculture is a fast growing sector of industry, and a source of many materials, as well as fish act as a good model for scientific research. The immune system has two main arms: innate (non-specific) and adaptive (specific). Innate immunity acts as a firewall not only against pathogens, but also against any foreign bodies, chemical agents or even environmental changes. However, there are many members of such system; but everyone has a particular function, like players in an orchestra. Fish rely mainly on their innate immunity; many studies were done to characterise, determine or understand the behaviour of immune-related genes in normal and disease conditions. To harness the real power beyond natural or innate immunity, we should understand the function of their members or genes. Herein, this review summarises and focuses on some genes related to innate immunity in different fish species.