Article
Food Science & Technology
Francisco Arimateia dos Santos Alves, Eliane Brabo de Sousa, Maira Pompeu Martins, Cassia Christina da Silva Rocha, Silvia Maria Mathes Faustino, Rosivaldo Alcantara Mendes, Marcelo de Oliveira Lima, Maria Paula Cruz Schneider
Summary: This study evaluated the presence of phycotoxins in oysters cultivated in five municipalities in the region of the Atlantic Amazon (Para, Brazil) and assessed the microalgae, water quality, and spatio-temporal variation of physicochemical factors in the same area. The study found the occurrence of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis sp. in the Amazon region, and for the first time, detected toxins in oyster farming in the northeast of the State of Para, although the values were non-toxic, they still represent a potential threat to shellfish consumers.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Steven R. Kibler, R. Wayne Litaker, Julie A. Matweyou, D. Ransom Hardison, Bruce A. Wright, Patricia A. Tester
Summary: This study examined seasonal variation in paralytic shellfish toxin concentrations in butter clams collected from three communities in the Kodiak Islands, Alaska. The results showed that toxin levels remained high throughout the year, with specific tissue removal not being an effective strategy for reducing overall toxin levels in butter clams.
Article
Spectroscopy
Xilin Dou, Shihan Xu, Yifei Jiang, Zhaoyang Ding, Jing Xie
Summary: Two nano-sensors were developed for the detection of marine toxins in seafood, showing low detection limits, stability, and selectivity. The sensors were successfully applied in shellfish sample for toxin sensing.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhou Chen, Sandra Zakrzewska, Holly S. Hajare, Aurora Alvarez-Buylla, Fayal Abderemane-Ali, Maximiliana Bogan, Dave Ramirez, Lauren A. O'Connell, J. Du Bois, Daniel L. Minor
Summary: This study defines the energetic basis of recognition between the sponge protein, RcSxph, and the neurotoxin STX. The study also improves the ability of RcSxph to neutralize STX and discovers new frog and toad sponge proteins. This research provides a molecular basis for understanding the roles of toxin sponge proteins in toxin resistance and developing novel proteins to sense or neutralize STX and related PSP toxins.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michael J. Boundy, D. Tim Harwood, Elena Tommasi, Emillie Burger, Roel van Ginkel, Craig Waugh, Andrew Selwood, Sarah Finch
Summary: This study determined the median lethal dose of dcGTX1&4 and recommended a toxicity equivalency factor of 0.1. Results showed that dcGTX1&4 was more toxic when administered via feeding compared to intraperitoneal injection and sodium channel activity methods.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sarah C. Finch, Nicola G. Webb, Michael J. Boundy, D. Tim Harwood, John S. Munday, Jan M. Sprosen, Chanatda Somchit, Ric B. Broadhurst
Summary: This study suggests that the previous trial may have been flawed and that the current regulatory limit for paralytic shellfish toxins is appropriate.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hongchen Zhu, Towa Sakai, Yuji Nagashima, Hiroyuki Doi, Tomohiro Takatani, Osamu Arakawa
Summary: The present study evaluated differences in TTX/STXs selectivity between freshwater and marine pufferfish through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results showed that freshwater pufferfish selectively took up STXs, while marine pufferfish had higher TTX/STXs selectivity.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Beenish Noureen, Najeeb Ullah, Yulan Tian, Liping Du, Wei Chen, Chunsheng Wu, Ping Wang
Summary: This study developed an electrolyte-insulator semiconductor (EIS) sensor for the label-free detection of saxitoxin (STX), one of the most dangerous shellfish toxins. The sensor was covered with a layer of positively-charged weak polyelectrolyte and utilized a specific aptamer for STX detection. The results showed that the aptasensor had a low detection limit and good selectivity and stability. This sensor provides a convenient approach for the moderate, rapid, and label-free detection of marine biological toxins.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hye-Min Kang, Jihoon Lee, Yeon-Ju Lee, Yeun Park, Euihyeon Lee, A-Young Shin, Jeonghoon Han, Hyi-Seung Lee, Jong Seok Lee, Kyun-Woo Lee
Summary: This study investigates the toxicity effects of Saxitoxin (STX) on the copepod Tigriopus japonicus and analyzes the transcriptome changes in response to STX exposure. The results demonstrate that the half-maximal lethal concentration of STX for Tigriopus japonicus is 12.35μM, causing rapid mortality at concentrations between 12 and 13μM. Transcriptome analysis reveals significant enrichment of genes involved in the nervous system and gene expression. Network analysis and toxicity pathway analysis identify congenital neurological disorders and oxidative stress pathways as the most significant effects of STX.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Quynh Thi Nhu Bui, Hansol Kim, Hyunjun Park, Jang-Seu Ki
Summary: This study revealed that A. pacificum produces the highest amount of toxins at 30 PSU, with cell size increasing at lower salinities, while the transcription levels of sxtA4 and sxtG show similar patterns under different salinity conditions.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tianjiao Ji, Yang Li, Xiaoran Deng, Alina Y. Rwei, Abraham Offen, Sherwood Hall, Wei Zhang, Chao Zhao, Manisha Mehta, Daniel S. Kohane
Summary: A self-assembling delivery system was developed for site-1 sodium channel blockers to prolong nerve blockade and reduce systemic toxicity. The system mimicked specific interactions of the blockers with sodium channel peptides, utilizing modified peptides with hydrophobic domains for nanofiber assembly. The strategy could potentially be applied to designing drug delivery systems for receptor-mediated drugs.
NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui Wang, Hansol Kim, Hyunjun Park, Jang-Seu Ki
Summary: The study found that temperature significantly affects cell growth and toxin production in toxic dinoflagellates, with 16 degrees Celsius being the most favorable temperature for cell growth. Lower temperatures and exposure to cold stress can increase the expression of toxin biosynthesis genes, while heat stress can downregulate the transcription of these genes. These results suggest that temperature may be a critical factor affecting the level and biosynthesis of toxins in marine toxic dinoflagellates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hikaru Oyama, Masaaki Ito, Rei Suo, Naoko Goto-Inoue, Mizuki Morisasa, Tsukasa Mori, Haruo Sugita, Tetsushi Mori, Ryota Nakahigashi, Masaatsu Adachi, Toshio Nishikawa, Shiro Itoi
Summary: In the toxic flatworm Planocera multitentaculata, the localization of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and its analogues varies during different stages of maturity, with 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX being abundant during spawning and 11-norTTX-6(S)-ol consistently localized in the pharyngeal tissue.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Haley A. Moniz, Molly A. Richard, C. M. Gienger, Chris R. Feldman
Summary: Specialization of traits can come at a cost to the original function, potentially leading to evolutionary tradeoffs that may threaten specialist populations. Despite this, specialized adaptations in some garter snake populations, such as mutations in sodium channels for toxin resistance, show repeated evolution, suggesting a preference for specialization in certain environments. Our study on toxin-resistant garter snakes found that despite differences in species, they exhibited almost identical mass-adjusted energy expenditure rates at two different temperatures, implying a conserved feature of standard metabolic rate in Thamnophis.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kun Qiao, Caiyun Jiang, Min Xu, Bei Chen, Wenhui Qiu, Yongchang Su, Hua Hao, Zhiyong Lin, Shuilin Cai, Jie Su, Zhiyu Liu, Wenshu Huang
Summary: This study identifies key amino acids in TfVWD that mediate its binding to tetrodotoxin, supporting in vivo toxicity attenuation and suggesting a role in toxin transport.
