Teleost Immunoglobulins in Lessons in Immunity: from single cell-organisms to mammals

Immunoglobulins represent one of the most studied molecules having a key role in the adaptive immune response. The emergence of different Immunoglobulin isotypes and their specific structural and functional features acquired during evolution have been deeply investigated. However, a clear relationship among different isotypes and their respective role in the response against pathogens is still poorly understood. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge of all Immunoglobulins described in a phylogenetically very ancient vertebrate group, the teleost fishes. In teleosts the Immunoglobulin gene locus has been shown to have undergone significant modifications through several duplication and deletion events occurred during evolution that have provided the Immunoglobulin molecule with high plasticity.