Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, Aleksandar Vojvodic, Jake P. Violi, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study presents a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and major MCs using RP LC-MS/MS. The application of this method on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB and MC-YR. The study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of these cyanotoxins in natural environmental samples.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jerome Henri, Rachelle Lanceleur, Jean-Michel Delmas, Valerie Fessard, Antoine Huguet
Summary: Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria globally, with variations in their structure affecting toxicity. Research indicates that oral absorption of Microcystin-RR may be poor, despite its common structure with more toxic variants like Microcystin-LR.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yanli Zheng, Chunling Xue, Hui Chen, Anqi Jia, Liang Zhao, Junli Zhang, Lixin Zhang, Qiang Wang
Summary: By utilizing synthetic biology, the biosynthetic gene cluster of MC-LR in Microcystis aeruginosa was reassembled and expressed in a model cyanobacterium, achieving autotrophic production of MC-LR. The study revealed that the expression of MC-LR caused abnormal cell division and filamentation, and further investigation demonstrated that MC-LR inhibits cell division by irreversibly competing for the GTP-binding site of the cell division protein FtsZ. This research lays the foundation for understanding the biosynthetic pathway of microcystins and reveals a mechanism of how blooming cyanobacteria gain a competitive edge.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Roberta Teta, Gerardo Della Sala, Germana Esposito, Mariano Stornaiuolo, Silvia Scarpato, Marco Casazza, Aniello Anastasio, Massimiliano Lega, Valeria Costantino
Summary: This study reports an unusual out-of-season cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom in Lake Avernus, South Italy, which completely disappeared after the COVID-19 lockdown. The chloroform extract from the bloom showed high cytotoxicity, correlated with the presence of cyanotoxins identified through LC-MS/MS molecular networking analysis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bai-Lin Liu, Yan-Wen Li, Li-Si Xie, Jing-Jie Guo, Lei Xiang, Ce-Hui Mo
Summary: This study investigated the sorption behaviors of microcystin-RR in different soils and identified the main factors affecting sorption. The results showed that the sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich model, and the linear distribution coefficients varied depending on soil properties. The sorption process involved various mechanisms such as electrostatic forces, cation exchange, and ligand exchange. The study provides important insights into the mobility potential of microcystins in terrestrial systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunhan Jiang, Ying Liu, Jian Zhang
Summary: Mixed antibiotics can stimulate the growth and microcystin synthesis of Microcystis aeruginosa by activating photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and other pathways to enhance resistance to oxidative stress. This study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the hormetic stimulation of harmful cyanobacterial blooms by antibiotic contaminants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yan Ren, Jie Wang, Wenwen Guo, Jingwen Chen, Xin Wu, Shubo Gu, Lizhi Xu, Zhiwei Wu, Yaping Wang
Summary: This study investigates the renoprotection effect of microcystins (MCs) and its congener microcystin-RR (MC-RR) in UUO-induced renal fibrosis. The findings demonstrate that MC-RR exerts a substantial renoprotective effect by suppressing the expression of TGF-beta 1/Smad signaling molecules, blocking epithelial dedifferentiation and myofibroblast activation.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Toxicology
Zorica Svircev, Liang Chen, Kinga Santha, Damjana Drobac Backovic, Stamenko Susak, Aleksandra Vulin, Tamara Palanacki Malesevic, Geoffrey A. Codd, Jussi Meriluoto
Summary: The toxicity of cyanotoxins on the cardiovascular system has been extensively studied. While there is potential for negative effects, the risk to cardiovascular health under normal environmental conditions is considered low.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Michal Bittner, Alja Stern, Marie Smutna, Klara Hilscherova, Bojana Zegura
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of complex extracts from various cyanobacterial species and algae on human cells, and found a potential relationship between the observed genotoxicity and the retinoic acid (RA) content in the extracts. Further research is needed to identify and confirm the compounds involved in the genotoxic effects of RAs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carlos J. Pestana, Diana S. Moura, Jose Capelo-Neto, Christine Edwards, Domenic Dreisbach, Bernhard Spengler, Linda A. Lawton
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of microplastics to act as carriers for microcystins, achieving toxin concentration 28 times higher on plastic than in water. The experimental results show that adsorption of microcystins onto microplastics is a multifactorial process, dependent on various factors. The study also stresses the limitations of exclusively investigating microcystin-LR.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiangbing Qiu, Jingrui Zhang, Aifeng Li
Summary: This review summarizes the application of the Caco-2 cell monolayer model in assessing the uptake and damage of phycotoxins in the intestine. Previous studies have shown that different groups of phycotoxins exhibit varying cytotoxicity and transport mechanisms in Caco-2 cells, suggesting the need for the development of multicellular intestinal models for comprehensive toxicity and absorption studies.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jason Dexter, Alistair J. McCormick, Pengcheng Fu, Dariusz Dziga
Summary: Microcystinase (MlrA) is the most efficient and specific enzymatic process in microcystin detoxification, providing valuable genetic and biochemical information for technological development. There is a growing interest in sustainable, biologically inspired alternatives, with MlrA showing potential in biotechnological applications.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shulian Wang, Yiying Jiao, Zhi Rao
Summary: This paper reviews recent advancements in research on the selective oxidation and adsorption of cyanotoxins in water bodies, discussing the potential and challenges of selective removal methods in addressing cyanotoxins, while also examining the prospects of cyanotoxin control and in situ selective elimination approaches. It is aimed to provide useful reference and direction for future pilot-scale applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shengdi Liu, Bin He, Hua Li
Summary: Toxic cyanobacteria blooms, particularly the variant microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR), pose a potential threat to global aquatic ecosystems and human health, with damaging effects on the male reproductive system. A meta-analysis of controlled studies on rodents and fishes revealed that short-term exposure to MC-LR can significantly affect reproductive parameters, such as sperm count, abnormal sperm rate, testis weight, and hormone concentrations. Higher dosage or prolonged exposure can worsen the damage, emphasizing the need for further research on MC-LR exposure in humans to protect health and the water environment.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Halima Abdullahi, Yahuza Tanimu, Suwebat Ayanronke Akinyemi, Maria Do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira, Mathias Ahii Chia
Summary: This study investigated the presence of microcystins in an irrigation water source and found low levels of toxins in the water but higher levels in irrigated vegetables. These results highlight a severe public health problem in Nigeria.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Leticia Diez-Quijada, Antonio Casas-Rodriguez, Remedios Guzman-Guillen, Veronica Molina-Hernandez, Rafael G. Albaladejo, Ana Maria Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: This study investigated the immunotoxicity of oral exposure to Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) in rats. The results showed that CYN mainly affected the immune modulation in the thymus and altered the expression of certain cytokines in the spleen. Additionally, CYN also had an impact on the serum levels of female rats.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Antonio Cascajosa-Lira, Silvia Pichardo, Alberto Banos, Enrique Guillamon, Veronica Molina-Hernandez, Rosario Moyano, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean
Summary: For the first time, acute and subchronic toxicity studies were conducted on the organosulfur compound PTS, demonstrating its safety in rats at certain doses with no significant adverse effects observed.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Oscar Cebadero-Dominguez, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean, Giorgiana M. Catunescu
Summary: The aim of this study is to identify and characterize toxicological hazards related to graphene nanomaterials (GFNs) after oral exposure through reviewing existing scientific literature. However, the investigations performed up to now did not follow internationally agreed-upon test guidelines. The results showed that GFNs seemed to resist gastrointestinal digestion and were able to be absorbed, distributed, and excreted, inducing toxic effects at different levels, including genotoxicity. Additionally, dose played an important role, as low doses were reported to be more toxic than high doses.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar Cebadero-Dominguez, Concepcion Medrano-Padial, Maria Puerto, Soraya Sanchez-Ballester, Ana Maria Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: The interest in graphene materials has grown due to their potential applications in various fields, including food packaging. However, concerns regarding their safety have arisen as their intake may increase. This study aimed to evaluate the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced-graphene oxide (rGO) according to the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The results showed that GO was not mutagenic, but rGO exhibited mutagenic activity at certain concentrations and exposure times. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the toxic profile of rGO.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Casas-Rodriguez, Rosario Moyano, Veronica Molina-Hernandez, Ana Maria Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: This study conducted uterotrophic bioassay in ovariectomized rats to investigate the estrogenic properties of MC-LR and CYN. The results showed no changes in uterus growth but potential thyroid disruption effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria G. Hinojosa, Antonio Cascajosa-Lira, Ana I. Prieto, Daniel Gutierrez-Praena, Vitor Vasconcelos, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean
Summary: The incidence and interest of cyanobacteria have been increasing due to their ability to produce toxic secondary metabolites known as cyanotoxins. This study assessed the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress generation of different cyanobacterial extracts, and compared the effects of extracts containing and not containing cylindrospermopsin (CYN) in human neuroblastoma cells. The results showed that the CYN-containing extract was more toxic and induced oxidative stress compared to the CYN-free extract. This study highlights the importance of studying toxic effects of cyanobacteria in their natural environment.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Antonio Casas-Rodriguez, Oscar Cebadero-Dominguez, Maria Puerto, Ana Maria Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of CYN on two human cell lines representative of the immune system, and found that CYN reduced cell viability, induced cell death mainly by apoptosis, decreased cell differentiation to macrophages, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of various cytokines. These results suggest the immunomodulatory activity of CYN in vitro, highlighting the need for further research on its impact on the human immune system.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Cascajosa-Lira, Concepcion Medrano-Padial, Silvia Pichardo, Jose Manuel de la Torre, Alberto Banos, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean
Summary: This study focused on analyzing the toxicokinetic profile of propyl-propane-thiosulfonate (PTSO) in the agricultural food sector. In silico and in vitro techniques were used to perform a pilot-study, and ecotoxicity studies were conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of the compound. The results showed the formation of detoxified metabolites and highlighted the need for further in vivo assays to confirm the findings.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Cascajosa-Lira, Remedios Guzman-Guillen, Alberto Banos Arjona, Maria Arantzazu Aguinaga-Casanas, Nahum Ayala-Soldado, M. Rosario Moyano-Salvago, Ana Molina, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean, Silvia Pichardo
Summary: The organosulfur compound PTSO from Allium cepa has potential applications in the agrifood industry. In vivo study on mice showed that exposure to PTSO did not cause significant reproductive toxicity, confirming its safety for agrifood applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Plata-Calzado, Leticia Diez-Quijada, Concepcion Medrano-Padial, Ana I. I. Prieto, Ana M. M. Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: The aim of this study was to explore the potential mutagenicity and genotoxicity of pure ATX-a and an ATX-a/CYN mixture. The results showed that ATX-a was not mutagenic but exhibited genotoxicity in the absence of S9 mix, while ATX-a/CYN mixture showed concentration-dependent genotoxicity only in the presence of S9. Therefore, further studies are necessary for more realistic risk assessments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oscar Cebadero-Dominguez, Leticia Diez-Quijada, Sergio Lopez, Soraya Sanchez-Ballester, Maria Puerto, Ana M. Camean, Angeles Jos
Summary: This study assesses the biotransformation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) during in vitro digestion and its toxic effects in different cell models. The results showed that rGO agglomerated during the digestion process. However, digestas of rGO did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity or inflammatory response in the tested concentrations.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.