Immunology, Environment, and Nutrition of Aquatic Animals
A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Feeding".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2026 | Viewed by 1068
Special Issue Editor
Interests: animal pathology and physiology; aquaculture; animal breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The health and resilience of aquatic animals are governed by the critical triad of immunology, environment, and nutrition. These three elements are deeply intertwined, dictating an animal’s ability to survive, grow, and reproduce in the aquatic realm.
An aquatic animal’s immune system is its primary defense against pathogens. Unlike terrestrial animals, they rely heavily on innate immunity—physical barriers like skin and mucus, as well as cellular and humoral responses—as their first line of defense. The adaptive immune system, while present, is often slower to respond.
The environment directly challenges this immune competence. Fluctuations in key water quality parameters—such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pollutants—act as stressors. Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can suppress immune function, increasing susceptibility to disease. This is where nutrition plays a pivotal role. A balanced diet provides the essential building blocks for immune cells and molecules. Key nutrients like vitamins (A, C, and E), minerals (zinc and selenium), and specific fatty acids (omega-3s) are crucial for maintaining robust immune responses. Optimal nutrition can help mitigate the immunosuppressive effects of environmental stress.
In conclusion, successful aquatic animal management, whether in aquaculture or conservation, requires an integrated approach. Understanding how environmental conditions influence immune function and how nutritional strategies can be optimized to bolster defense mechanisms is essential for ensuring aquatic animal health and sustainability.
Dr. Quanquan Cao
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- immunology
- environment
- nutrition
- aquatic animals
- signal regulation
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