Physiology section at the

Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="4.444444444444445in" height="3.5in"}Luke
R. Iwanowicz

[Education:]{.underline}

Ph.D. Student\
University of Massachusetts at Amherst

M.S. Aquaculture/Fisheries\
Concentration in Fish Health\
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

B.S. Fisheries Biology/ Biology minor\
University of Massachusetts at Amherst

[Interests:]{.underline}

Primary scientific interests involve infectious diseases of fishes, the
pathology/ immune responses they elicit and the influence of hormones on
immune function. These immunologic and endocrine parameters are affected
by environmental contaminants and thus serve as sensitive indicators of
biological modulation. As a result, measuring such parameters offers a
sensitive, powerful tool for assessing health of fishes in environmental
monitoring programs. My field-based research utilizes reference sites as
a comparative baseline to assess disruption of seasonal immune status,
sex and thyroid hormone profiles, gonad development, and liver enzymes
of sampled fishes from the contaminated sites. Research is conducted at
both the S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center and the National
Fish Health Research Laboratory in Leetown, WV.

Current projects include:

1.  Assessing ecosystem health in the Ashtabula River, Ohio and
    Chesapeake Bay watershed using sensitive immunologic and
    reproduction associated biomarkers.

2.  Examining the effects of environmental contaminants on normal
    endocrine and immunologic function in Atlantic salmon, largemouth
    bass, brown bullheads and white perch. Histological assessment using
    image analysis technology is also used

3.  Production of monoclonal antibodies to detect largemouth bass
    immunoglobulins for applied immunoassays.

4.  Developing/ adapting novel immunoassays and laser scanning
    cytometric (LSC) methods for assessing fish health.

5.  Investigating the immunomodulatory effects of hormones on fish
    leukocytes.

[Publications:]{.underline}

L Iwanowicz, C Densmore and C Ottinger (2003) Calcein AM released-based
cytotoxic cell assay for fish leucocytes. *Fish & Shellfish Immunology*.
*In press.*

L R Iwanowicz and A E Goodwin (2002) Characterization of a new
bacilliform fathead minnow rhabdovirus that produces syncytia in tissue
culture. *Archives of Virology* 147: 889 -- 916.

Christine L. Densmore, Christopher A. Ottinger, Vicki Blazer and Luke R.
Iwanowicz (2002). Immunomodulation and disease resistance in *Myxobolus
cerebralis* infected rainbow trout. Proceedings of the 8^th^ Annual
Whirling Disease Symposium.

L R Iwanowicz, A E Goodwin and J Harshbarger (2001) Embryonal
rhabdomyosarcoma of the giant gourami, *Colisa fasciata* (Bloch &
Schneider). *Journal of Fish Diseases* 24:177-179*.*

L R Iwanowicz, A E Goodwin and N Heil (2000) A small RNA virus isolated
from apparently healthy wild sandbar shiners, *Notropis scepticus*.
*Journal of Fish Diseases* 23: 349-352.

# In review

Christine Densmore, Christopher Ottinger, Vicki Blazer, Luke Iwanowicz
and Dave Smith (2003). Immunomodulation and disease resistance in
post-yearling rainbow trout (*Oncorynchus mykiss*) infected with
*Myxobolus cerebralis*, the causative agent of whirling disease.
*Journal of Aquatic Animal Health.* *In review*.

M. McIntire, L R Iwanowicz, and A E Goodwin (2003) Clarifying the
relationship between Golden Shiner Virus and Chinese Grass Carp
Reovirus: a promiscuous, cosmopolitan pathogen with multiple identities.
*Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. In review.*