Abstract

Fish are the earliest vertebrates which have a well-developed immune system characterized by both cellular and humoral branches endowed with specificity and memory. More specifically, since invertebrates apparently lack a molecule resembling the vertebrate antibody molecule (Bang, 1973; Shapiro, 1975), fish are the first group of animals which clearly possess an immunoglobulin component. In addition, although there is evidence indicating cellular function in recognition of non-self in invertebrates (reviewed in Cooper, 1976), again fish are the first group of animals where T-like and B-like lymphocytes may actually attain a level of specialization.

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