Chapter 19 – Teleost Immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulin (Ig) represents one of the most studied classes of molecules, having a key role in the adaptive immune response. The emergence of different Ig isotypes and their specific structural and functional features developed during evolution have been deeply investigated. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge of all Igs described in a phylogenetically early vertebrate group, the teleost fish. In teleosts, the Ig gene locus underwent significant modifications through several duplication and deletion events that occurred during evolution that generated an interesting diversification across species.