Rethinking Disease Control in Aquaculture Invertebrates: Harnessing Innate Immunity in Molluscs and Crustaceans

TL;DR

This paper reviews how to improve disease control in mollusc and crustacean aquaculture by boosting their innate immune systems.

Contribution

The paper highlights recent advances in immunomodulators and prophylactic strategies for invertebrate aquaculture.

Findings

Current disease management in invertebrate aquaculture has limited efficacy against emerging pathogens.

Immunostimulants and trans-generational immune priming show promise in enhancing disease resilience.

Research is focusing on innate immunity mechanisms specific to molluscs and crustaceans.

Abstract

Aquaculture of molluscs and crustaceans represents an important and expanding sector within global food production. The intensification of these systems has been accompanied by an increased prevalence and severity of infectious diseases, which continue to constrain productivity and sustainability. Current disease management approaches include biosecurity measures, husbandry practices, therapeutics, and selective breeding, which have shown limited efficacy against many emerging pathogens affecting invertebrate species. Unlike finfish, aquatic invertebrates lack adaptive immunity and rely exclusively on innate immune mechanisms, limiting the effectiveness of traditional vaccine strategies. There is growing interest in immunostimulants that enhance innate defenses and support immune priming or trans-generational immune priming (TGIP). This review summarises the current understanding of immune defence mechanisms in molluscs and crustaceans and examines recent progress in the development of immunomodulators and prophylactic interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and disease resilience in invertebrate aquaculture.

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