Immunomodulators: An Introduction

Abstract

Every year, the number of fish-bred goods increases across the world. In most cases, fish are raised in contained environments such as ponds or net cages. Today, efforts are being undertaken to boost production per unit space and minimise the usage of synthetic chemotherapeutics (antibiotics, antivirals) in animals to prevent illnesses caused by overcrowding. As a result, new techniques for using natural immunostimulants that stimulate the immune systems of animals and fish have been devised. Antibiotics and other medications against fish diseases have also been developed similarly. Immunomodulators and how they operate to activate the immune system when exposed to external stimuli are continually expanding our understanding. Given the intricacies of this issue, it’s reasonable to assume that presenting an overview of all aspects of immunomodulators is beyond the scope of this chapter. Instead, we will limit ourselves to providing a basic understanding of the immunomodulator’s key components and actions in fish and their importance in the fish’s health and disease. This article also serves as a background for the arguments that will be addressed in detail in the following chapters. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Preetham Elumalai, Mehdi Soltani and Sreeja Lakshmi; individual chapters, the contributors.