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Sharks belong to the oldest vertebrate species that possess immune systems similar to that of mammals. This makes them a great model species to study the fundamentals of the mammalian immune system. This book describes the cellular, genetic, and molecular specifics of immune systems in sharks and uses them to understand shark immunity as well as the evolution of immune systems in more recently-evolved vertebrates. Written by global experts, the book will be a resource for immunologists, geneticists, ecologists, evolutionary and conservation biologists, and investigators engaged in shark research.
List of contents
The Diversity and Natural History of Chondrichthyan Fishes. Athena and the Evolution of Adaptive Immunity. Shark Reproduction, Immune System Development and Maturation. Sites of Immune Cell Production in Elasmobranch Fishes: Lymphomyeloid Tissues and Organs. Elasmobranch Blood Cells. Leukocyte Function in Elasmobranch Species: Phagocytosis, Chemotaxis, and Cytotoxicity. Cytokines of Cartilaginous Fish. Shark Complement: Genes, Proteins and Function. MHC Molecules of Cartilaginous Fishes. Considering V(D)J Recombination in the Shark. Shark Immunoglobulin Light Chains.Shark T-Cell Receptors. The Shark-Family (Cartilaginous Fish) Immunogenome. In Vitro Culture of Elasmobranch Cells. Antimicrobial Molecules of Sharks and Other Elasmobranchs: A Review. Shark-Derived Immunomodulators.
About the author
Sylvia L. Smith, PhD, SM (ASCP, AAM), professor emeritus, Florida International University, Miami, USA
Robert B. Sim, DPhil, senior research fellow, University of Oxford, and honorary professor, University of Leicester, UK
Martin F. Flajnik, PhD, professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA
Summary
Immunity studies in sharks over the past three decades have produced some remarkable discoveries. If one message rings true, it is that alternative animal model systems, such as sharks and their relatives, have contributed very substantially to a better understanding of the development evolution of our own immune system.
Immunobiology of the Shark describes the cellular, genetic, and molecular specifics of immune systems in sharks. Diverse approaches were employed to study the immunobiology of the shark from basic microscopic observations to detailed genome annotation. The book also raises a series of fascinating questions, which can be addressed experimentally using today’s technology.
This book will be a valuable resource for mainstream immunologists, comparative immunologists, geneticists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and investigators engaged in shark research. The book also aims to illustrate the magnificence of these animals as model systems and underscores the importance of their study to further understand their complex, and often enigmatic, biology.
