12. IMMUNOLOGY OF FISH
467
vertebrates has also long been under investigation, but it was not until
1967 that the first symposium devoted solely to this subject was organized (Bang, 1967). Evans and his associates form a group that has been
active in studying the comparative immunology of both vertebrates and
invertebrates for some time (cf. the several references in this chapter).
The sketch and references just given provide a background against
which the consideration of the immunology of fish can be developed.
Speaking very broadly, this background of research shows that the
immunological responses of fishes and related phenomena such as blood
group polymorphism and the nature of fish complement are much like
those of other classes of vertebrates. However, variations continue to
be discovered within this broad likeness. These are not only interesting
in their own right, but their study contributes to fundamental knowledge
concerning the immunological response, its evolution, ontogenesis, population ecology, and medical significance. That fish have numerous advantages as experimental organisms is brought out in these volumes, and
it is hoped that this chapter provides a basis for further research into
the immunological facet of fish physiology. Emphasis will be placed on
those aspects of the physiology of comparative immunology referred
to above rather than on the problems relating to the identification of
subpopulations (see Section V on blood groups).
B. Methods
The methods of immunology have multiplied enormously over the
past decade as an integral part of the “immunology explosion.” It is
not feasible to review these in any detail, but some general discussion
will be of value.
Several recent books dealing with the vast array of methods are now
available. Among these, the series entitled “Methods in Immunology
and Immunochemistry” edited by Williams and Chase (1967, 1970), the
book “Experimental Immunology” edited by Weir (1967), and the
book by Campbell et al. entitled “Methods in Immunology” (1970) are
outstanding. References to relatively simple applications of blood grouping methods to the study of fish are reviewed in Cushing (1964). The
most extensive and recent book on blood grouping is Race and Sanger’s
“Blood Groups in Man” (1968).
Obviously, the methods used by individual workers on fish show
the most specific application to problems of direct concern to this
chapter, and it is recommended that they be followed in detail through
the literature citations. It is worthy of note that gel diffusion methods
467
vertebrates has also long been under investigation, but it was not until
1967 that the first symposium devoted solely to this subject was organized (Bang, 1967). Evans and his associates form a group that has been
active in studying the comparative immunology of both vertebrates and
invertebrates for some time (cf. the several references in this chapter).
The sketch and references just given provide a background against
which the consideration of the immunology of fish can be developed.
Speaking very broadly, this background of research shows that the
immunological responses of fishes and related phenomena such as blood
group polymorphism and the nature of fish complement are much like
those of other classes of vertebrates. However, variations continue to
be discovered within this broad likeness. These are not only interesting
in their own right, but their study contributes to fundamental knowledge
concerning the immunological response, its evolution, ontogenesis, population ecology, and medical significance. That fish have numerous advantages as experimental organisms is brought out in these volumes, and
it is hoped that this chapter provides a basis for further research into
the immunological facet of fish physiology. Emphasis will be placed on
those aspects of the physiology of comparative immunology referred
to above rather than on the problems relating to the identification of
subpopulations (see Section V on blood groups).
B. Methods
The methods of immunology have multiplied enormously over the
past decade as an integral part of the “immunology explosion.” It is
not feasible to review these in any detail, but some general discussion
will be of value.
Several recent books dealing with the vast array of methods are now
available. Among these, the series entitled “Methods in Immunology
and Immunochemistry” edited by Williams and Chase (1967, 1970), the
book “Experimental Immunology” edited by Weir (1967), and the
book by Campbell et al. entitled “Methods in Immunology” (1970) are
outstanding. References to relatively simple applications of blood grouping methods to the study of fish are reviewed in Cushing (1964). The
most extensive and recent book on blood grouping is Race and Sanger’s
“Blood Groups in Man” (1968).
Obviously, the methods used by individual workers on fish show
the most specific application to problems of direct concern to this
chapter, and it is recommended that they be followed in detail through
the literature citations. It is worthy of note that gel diffusion methods