The objectives of the Immunology (I&D) Team is to assess the risk of habitat (watershed/estuary) alteration on the immune response and disease susceptibility of fish and if altered function results in decreased survival in populations. We are especially interested in fish species that are considered 'at risk.' These 'at risk' species would included fish that are considered threatened or endangered such as salmon and some marine species.

The occurrence of a disease in an individual can be represented conceptually by the interaction of three variables that the I&D Team are researching. They are as follows: the host, the pathogen, and the environment (Snieszko 1973).

The interaction of the host, parasite and environment influence disease occurrence.

Therefore, we are describing and quantifying associations among fish (hosts), parasite populations (virulent pathogens), and human-induced alterations (adverse environment) in fish from the Pacific Northwest.