Proteomics and its applications to aquaculture in China: Infection, immunity, and interaction of aquaculture hosts with pathogens

China is the largest fishery producer worldwide in term of its aquaculture output, and plays leading and decisive roles in international aquaculture development. To improve aquaculture output further and promote aquaculture business development, infectious diseases and immunity of fishes and other aquaculture species must be studied. In this regard, aquaculture proteomics has been widely carried out in China to get a better understanding of aquaculture host immunity and microbial pathogenesis as well as host–pathogen interactions, and to identify novel disease targets and vaccine candidates for therapeutic interventions. These proteomics studies include development of novel methods, assays, and advanced concepts in order to characterize proteomics mechanisms of host innate immune defense and microbial pathogenesis. This review article summarizes some recently published technical approaches and their applications to aquaculture proteomics with an emphasis on the responses of aquaculture animals to bacteria, viruses, and other aqua-environmental stresses, and development of broadly cross-protective vaccine candidates. The reviewed articles are those that have been published in international peer reviewed journals.

► China is the world’s largest fishery producer with its aquaculture output.
► Aquaculture proteomics has been widely carried out in China.
► The proteomics approach is used for an understanding of host immunity and pathogenic pathogenesis.
► This review summarizes published technical approaches and their applications to aquaculture proteomics.
► The review emphasizes on the responses of aquaculture animals to microbes and environmental stresses.