“…The percentages of the significant ESTs obtained were higher than for cDNA or subtracted libraries after experimental infection or immune stimulation of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) (30), carp (Cyprinus carpio) (31), salmon (S. salar) (32), and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) (33). Within the genes related to the immune system category, however, we identified genes that had already been described in those fish libraries (Table I) and are critical components in the mammalian immune response such as galectins (34,35), Cd209e (35), C-type lectins (31,32,34,36,37), pentraxins (32,38), MHC class II and heat-shock protein 90 (30,32,35),  2 -microglobulin, Ig H and L chains (30,32), and Tcomplex protein (32). This considerable number of common upregulated transcripts supports the notion that multiple components of both innate and adaptative immune responses of fish have been conserved in the vertebrate lineages leading to the mammals.…”