Dr. Iwanowicz is a research biologist at the USGS, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory in Kearneysville, WV.
Biography
His primary research focuses on the application of resident fishes as sentinels of aquatic ecosystem health, the development of molecular tools for field study, and the identification of emerging diseases of fishes. He also leads a Core Technology Team established to evaluate environmental water samples for biological activity including endocrine disrupting activity and toxicity.
Professional Experience
Editorial Board, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2016-present
Adjunct Graduate Faculty, University of Maryland, College Park, 2015-present
Associate Editor, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, 2009-2017
Research Biologist, US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 2008-present
Research Fish Biologist, US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 2006-2008
Biological Laboratory Technician, US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 2002-2006
Scientist II, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2001-2002
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2008, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Natural Resources, Advisor: Stephen D. McCormick
M.S. 2000, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Department of Aquaculture/F
B.S. 1997, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Major: Fish Biology, Minor: Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Microbiology
American Fisheries Society
Microbiology Society
Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Honors and Awards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Scientific and Technological Achievement Award (2015)
Spotlight Feature Article, Journal of Virology (2015)
American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (2011)
AFS-Fish Health Section; Special Achievement Award (2011)
American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (2004)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 100
Mycobacterial infection in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River catchment
The Northern snakehead, Channa argus (Cantor), is a non-native predatory fish that has become established regionally in some temperate freshwater habitats within the United States. Over the past decade, Northern snakehead populations have developed within aquatic ecosystems throughout the eastern USA, including the Potomac River system within Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Since this spec
Characterization of a novel hepadnavirus in the white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) from the Great Lakes Region of the USA
The white sucker Catostomus commersonii is a freshwater teleost often utilized as a resident sentinel. Here, we sequenced the full genome of a hepatitis B-like virus that infects white suckers from the Great Lakes Region of the USA. Dideoxysequencing confirmed the white sucker hepatitis B virus (WSHBV) has a circular genome (3542 bp) with the prototypical codon organization of hepadnaviruses. Elec
Estuarine bed-sediment-quality data collected in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy, 2013
This report describes a reconnaissance study of estuarine bed-sediment quality conducted June–October 2013 in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 to assess the extent of contamination and the potential long-term human and ecological impacts of the storm. The study, funded through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (PL 113-2), was conducted by the U.S. Geologic
Flow cytometric method for measuring chromatin fragmentation in fixed sperm from yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Declining harvests of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in urbanized watersheds of Chesapeake Bay have prompted investigations of their reproductive fitness. The purpose of this study was to establish a flow cytometric technique for DNA analysis of fixed samples sent from the field to provide reliable gamete quality measurements. Similar to the sperm chromatin structure assay, measures were made on
A landscape-based reconnaissance survey of estrogenic activity in streams of the upper Potomac, upper James,and Shenandoah Rivers, USA
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are becoming of increasing concern in waterways of the USA and worldwide. What remains poorly understood, however, is how prevalent these emerging contaminants are in the environment and what methods are best able to determine landscape sources of EDCs. We describe the development of a spatially structured sampling design and a reconnaissance survey of estroge
Reproductive health indicators of fishes from Pennsylvania watersheds: association with chemicals of emerging concern
Fishes were collected at 16 sites within the three major river drainages (Delaware, Susquehanna, and Ohio) of Pennsylvania. Three species were evaluated for biomarkers of estrogenic/antiandrogenic exposure, including plasma vitellogenin and testicular oocytes in male fishes. Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, white sucker Catostomus commersonii, and redhorse sucker Moxostoma species were collec
Comparative responses to endocrine disrupting compounds in early life stages of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are endangered anadromous fish that may be exposed to feminizing endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) during early development, potentially altering physiological capacities, survival and fitness. To assess differential life stage sensitivity to common EDCs, we carried out short-term (four day) exposures using three doses each of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17β-estra
Assessment of the fish tumor beneficial use impairment in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) at selected Great Lakes Areas of Concern
A total of 878 adult Brown Bullhead were collected at 11 sites within the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario drainages from 2011 to 2013. The sites included seven Areas of Concern (AOC; 670 individuals), one delisted AOC (50 individuals) and three non-AOC sites (158 individuals) used as reference sites. These fish were used to assess the “fish tumor or other deformities” beneficial use impairment. Fish we
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) leukocytes express estrogen receptor isoforms ERα and ERβ2 and are functionally modulated by estrogens
Estrogens are recognized as modulators of immune responses in mammals and teleosts. While it is known that the effects of estrogens are mediated via leukocyte-specific estrogen receptors (ERs) in humans and mice, leucocyte-specific estrogen receptor expression and the effects of estrogens on this cell population is less explored and poorly understood in teleosts. Here in, we verify that channel ca
In vitro immune functions in thiamine-replete and -depleted lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
In this study we examined the impacts of in vivo thiamine deficiency on lake trout leukocyte function measured in vitro. When compared outside the context of individual-specific thiamine concentrations no significant differences were observed in leukocyte bactericidal activity or in concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) stimulated leukocyte proliferation. Placing immune function
Monitoring of wild fish health at selected sites in the Great Lakes Basin: methods and preliminary results
During fall 2010 and spring 2011, a total of 119 brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), 136 white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), 73 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and 59 largemouth bass (M. salmoides) were collected from seven Great Lakes Basin Areas of Concern and one Reference Site. Comprehensive fish health assessments were conducted in order to document potential adverse affects from e
Transgenic zebrafish reveal tissue-specific differences in estrogen signaling in response to environmental water samples
Background: Environmental endocrine disruptors (EED) are exogenous chemicals that mimic endogenous hormones, such as estrogens. Previous studies using a zebrafish transgenic reporter demonstrated that the EEDs bisphenol A and genistein preferentially activate estrogen receptors (ER) in the larval heart compared to the liver. However, it was not known whether the transgenic zebrafish reporter was s
Non-USGS Publications**
Iwanowicz, L., L Brown, B Eltz, F Juanes and J Murt (2004) Book Review. In a Perfect Ocean: The state of fisheries and ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.14: 149-151.
McIntire, M., L R Iwanowicz and A E Goodwin (2003) Molecular, physical and clinical evidence that Golden Shiner Virus (GSV) and Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV) are variants of the same virus. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 15: 257-263.
Iwanowicz, L.R. 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.
Iwanowicz, L.R. A E Goodwin and J Harshbarger (2001) Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the giant gourami, Colisa fasciata (Bloch & Schneider). Journal of Fish Diseases 24:177-179
Iwanowicz, L.R. 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.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Mycobacterial infection in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River catchment
The Northern snakehead, Channa argus (Cantor), is a non-native predatory fish that has become established regionally in some temperate freshwater habitats within the United States. Over the past decade, Northern snakehead populations have developed within aquatic ecosystems throughout the eastern USA, including the Potomac River system within Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Since this specCharacterization of a novel hepadnavirus in the white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) from the Great Lakes Region of the USA
The white sucker Catostomus commersonii is a freshwater teleost often utilized as a resident sentinel. Here, we sequenced the full genome of a hepatitis B-like virus that infects white suckers from the Great Lakes Region of the USA. Dideoxysequencing confirmed the white sucker hepatitis B virus (WSHBV) has a circular genome (3542 bp) with the prototypical codon organization of hepadnaviruses. ElecEstuarine bed-sediment-quality data collected in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy, 2013
This report describes a reconnaissance study of estuarine bed-sediment quality conducted June–October 2013 in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 to assess the extent of contamination and the potential long-term human and ecological impacts of the storm. The study, funded through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (PL 113-2), was conducted by the U.S. GeologicFlow cytometric method for measuring chromatin fragmentation in fixed sperm from yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Declining harvests of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, in urbanized watersheds of Chesapeake Bay have prompted investigations of their reproductive fitness. The purpose of this study was to establish a flow cytometric technique for DNA analysis of fixed samples sent from the field to provide reliable gamete quality measurements. Similar to the sperm chromatin structure assay, measures were made onA landscape-based reconnaissance survey of estrogenic activity in streams of the upper Potomac, upper James,and Shenandoah Rivers, USA
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are becoming of increasing concern in waterways of the USA and worldwide. What remains poorly understood, however, is how prevalent these emerging contaminants are in the environment and what methods are best able to determine landscape sources of EDCs. We describe the development of a spatially structured sampling design and a reconnaissance survey of estrogeReproductive health indicators of fishes from Pennsylvania watersheds: association with chemicals of emerging concern
Fishes were collected at 16 sites within the three major river drainages (Delaware, Susquehanna, and Ohio) of Pennsylvania. Three species were evaluated for biomarkers of estrogenic/antiandrogenic exposure, including plasma vitellogenin and testicular oocytes in male fishes. Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, white sucker Catostomus commersonii, and redhorse sucker Moxostoma species were collecComparative responses to endocrine disrupting compounds in early life stages of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are endangered anadromous fish that may be exposed to feminizing endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) during early development, potentially altering physiological capacities, survival and fitness. To assess differential life stage sensitivity to common EDCs, we carried out short-term (four day) exposures using three doses each of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17β-estraAssessment of the fish tumor beneficial use impairment in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) at selected Great Lakes Areas of Concern
A total of 878 adult Brown Bullhead were collected at 11 sites within the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario drainages from 2011 to 2013. The sites included seven Areas of Concern (AOC; 670 individuals), one delisted AOC (50 individuals) and three non-AOC sites (158 individuals) used as reference sites. These fish were used to assess the “fish tumor or other deformities” beneficial use impairment. Fish weChannel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) leukocytes express estrogen receptor isoforms ERα and ERβ2 and are functionally modulated by estrogens
Estrogens are recognized as modulators of immune responses in mammals and teleosts. While it is known that the effects of estrogens are mediated via leukocyte-specific estrogen receptors (ERs) in humans and mice, leucocyte-specific estrogen receptor expression and the effects of estrogens on this cell population is less explored and poorly understood in teleosts. Here in, we verify that channel caIn vitro immune functions in thiamine-replete and -depleted lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
In this study we examined the impacts of in vivo thiamine deficiency on lake trout leukocyte function measured in vitro. When compared outside the context of individual-specific thiamine concentrations no significant differences were observed in leukocyte bactericidal activity or in concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) stimulated leukocyte proliferation. Placing immune functionMonitoring of wild fish health at selected sites in the Great Lakes Basin: methods and preliminary results
During fall 2010 and spring 2011, a total of 119 brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), 136 white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), 73 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and 59 largemouth bass (M. salmoides) were collected from seven Great Lakes Basin Areas of Concern and one Reference Site. Comprehensive fish health assessments were conducted in order to document potential adverse affects from eTransgenic zebrafish reveal tissue-specific differences in estrogen signaling in response to environmental water samples
Background: Environmental endocrine disruptors (EED) are exogenous chemicals that mimic endogenous hormones, such as estrogens. Previous studies using a zebrafish transgenic reporter demonstrated that the EEDs bisphenol A and genistein preferentially activate estrogen receptors (ER) in the larval heart compared to the liver. However, it was not known whether the transgenic zebrafish reporter was sNon-USGS Publications**
Iwanowicz, L., L Brown, B Eltz, F Juanes and J Murt (2004) Book Review. In a Perfect Ocean: The state of fisheries and ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.14: 149-151.McIntire, M., L R Iwanowicz and A E Goodwin (2003) Molecular, physical and clinical evidence that Golden Shiner Virus (GSV) and Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV) are variants of the same virus. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 15: 257-263.Iwanowicz, L.R. 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.Iwanowicz, L.R. A E Goodwin and J Harshbarger (2001) Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the giant gourami, Colisa fasciata (Bloch & Schneider). Journal of Fish Diseases 24:177-179Iwanowicz, L.R. 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.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government