Letter from the Editors – Volume 14 Issue 1, 2026

As scientists working at the cutting-edge of immunology discovery research , we often turn to the familiar: the well- established mouse models, drawing parallels to the human immune system, the canonical pathways and conventional cell types. These form the foundation of modern biomedical research. Yet immunity did not emerge in a single organism, nor does it follow a single blueprint. Across hundreds of millions of years of evolution, life has developed remarkably diverse strategies to survive infection, tolerate environmental stress, and coexist with microbes. In this issue titled “Built to Survive: Immunity Beyond Humans”, we invite you to step beyond the conventional and explore immunity through the lens of comparative biology.

We begin with tracing the evolution of immune systems across the tree of life, from single-celled organisms to modern vertebrates (pg.8). We follow up with some of the most fascinating questions in evolutionary immunology: Why do whales, despite their enormous and size long lifespans, appear remarkably resistant to cancer? (pg.10) How did chickens help uncover the fundamental organization of adaptive immunity? (pg.12) And how have plants evolved sophisticated immune systems without specialized immune cells at all? (pg.14) Through articles spanning organisms from plants to primates (pg.16), this issue highlights how studying diverse organisms continues to challenge assumptions and expand our understanding of immune biology.

Our interviews with Dr. Götz Ehrhardt (pg.20) and alumnus Dr. Justin Tze Ho Chan (pg.22) explore the unusual and elegant immune systems of jawless fish, particularly lampreys and their variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) (pg. 28). This issue also examines the changing landscape of biomedical research. Comparative immunology is not only about evolutionary curiosity, but it also continues to shape modern medicine. Articles on non-human primates (pg.16), organoid systems (pg.18), and zoonotic disease (pg. 30) explore the opportunities and ethical challenges of studying immunity across species. Elsewhere, readers will encounter the hidden immunological influence of growing up with pets (pg.24), the molecular arms race between fungi and RNA interference (pg.26), and all about the fascinating immune systems of the naked mole rats (pg.29).

This issue also reflects on how discoveries in comparative biology have transformed science itself. Our review of The Code Breaker revisits the story of CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene editing technology rooted in bacterial immune defense systems (pg.34). It is perhaps one of the best modern examples of how studying seemingly obscure biological systems can profoundly reshape medicine, biotechnology, and society.

Ultimately, the stories in this issue share a common message: there is no single “correct” immune system to study. Evolution has produced countless ways to survive. By studying these diverse systems, we not only deepen our understanding of immunity, but also uncover ideas that may inspire the next generation of therapies and technologies.

We hope this issue encourages you to look beyond the familiar and appreciate the remarkable diversity of immune systems across life.

We would like to thank all the wonderful writers, editors, and designers that made this issue possible! Last but not least, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude and warm farewell to our design director, Jennifer Ahn, as she steps out of her role onto bigger and better things. Thanks for helping design beautiful issues of IMMpress over the years, we will miss you!

Editors-in-Chief