-
Marine Drugs Dec 2020By the end of the year 2020, there are nine marine-derived anticancer drugs available on the market, and the field is currently growing exponentially [...].
By the end of the year 2020, there are nine marine-derived anticancer drugs available on the market, and the field is currently growing exponentially [...].
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Humans; Marine Biology; Marine Toxins; Neoplasms
PubMed: 33333876
DOI: 10.3390/md18120643 -
Toxins Jun 2019The emergence of marine biotoxins in geographical areas where they have never been reported before is a concern of considerable impact on seafood contamination, and...
The emergence of marine biotoxins in geographical areas where they have never been reported before is a concern of considerable impact on seafood contamination, and consequently, on public health [...].
Topics: Animals; Environmental Monitoring; Food Contamination; Humans; Marine Toxins; Seafood
PubMed: 31163582
DOI: 10.3390/toxins11060314 -
Toxins Sep 2019Prevalence of marine biotoxins in seafood has been associated with increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of harmful algal blooms, and an increase of the...
Prevalence of marine biotoxins in seafood has been associated with increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of harmful algal blooms, and an increase of the geographical and temporal distribution of harmful algae [...].
Topics: Foodborne Diseases; Harmful Algal Bloom; Humans; Marine Toxins; Seafood
PubMed: 31554162
DOI: 10.3390/toxins11100558 -
Marine Drugs Nov 2020Marine habitats harbour a large variety of organisms that belong to diverse taxa; from bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes to fungi, animals, and plants. Although we...
Marine habitats harbour a large variety of organisms that belong to diverse taxa; from bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes to fungi, animals, and plants. Although we have only started to understand the diversity and structure of marine communities, it is clear that numerous marine species have or might have an impact on human health. Some are a source of natural products with potential or actual medical applications, others are toxic and harmful to humans, and some are used in biomedical research to help understand the molecular basis of human diseases. New molecular genetics and genomic methods provide powerful and ever more indispensable tools for studying marine organisms and all aspects of their influence on human health. Herein, we present work using the latest research, which mostly uses genomics, to tackle the questions related with the topic of the issue.
Topics: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Genome; Health Status; Humans; Marine Toxins; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 33147725
DOI: 10.3390/md18110548 -
Toxins Aug 2017Rex Munday was a scientist working for AgResearch Ltd. in New Zealand. He was a leading figure in the area of marine toxin toxicity. His passing in July 2017 marked a...
Rex Munday was a scientist working for AgResearch Ltd. in New Zealand. He was a leading figure in the area of marine toxin toxicity. His passing in July 2017 marked a loss for his family, as well as for colleagues who knew him as a dedicated professional, and a lively scientist with a great sense of humor.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Marine Toxins; New Zealand; Toxicology
PubMed: 28837074
DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090257 -
Toxins May 2021Macrolides are a diverse class of hydrophobic compounds characterized by a macrocyclic lactone ring and distinguished by variable side chains/groups. Some of the most... (Review)
Review
Macrolides are a diverse class of hydrophobic compounds characterized by a macrocyclic lactone ring and distinguished by variable side chains/groups. Some of the most well characterized macrolides are toxins produced by marine bacteria, sea sponges, and other species. Many marine macrolide toxins act as biomimetic molecules to natural actin-binding proteins, affecting actin polymerization, while other toxins act on different cytoskeletal components. The disruption of natural cytoskeletal processes affects cell motility and cytokinesis, and can result in cellular death. While many macrolides are toxic in nature, others have been shown to display therapeutic properties. Indeed, some of the most well known antibiotic compounds, including erythromycin, are macrolides. In addition to antibiotic properties, macrolides have been shown to display antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, and immunosuppressive actions. Here, we review each functional class of macrolides for their common structures, mechanisms of action, pharmacology, and human cellular targets.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cytoskeleton; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Macrolides; Marine Toxins
PubMed: 34065929
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13050347 -
Marine Drugs Feb 2024The presence and impact of toxins have been detected in various regions worldwide ever since the discovery of azaspiracids (AZAs) in 1995. These toxins have had... (Review)
Review
The presence and impact of toxins have been detected in various regions worldwide ever since the discovery of azaspiracids (AZAs) in 1995. These toxins have had detrimental effects on marine resource utilization, marine environmental protection, and fishery production. Over the course of more than two decades of research and development, scientists from all over the world have conducted comprehensive studies on the in vivo metabolism, in vitro synthesis methods, pathogenic mechanisms, and toxicology of these toxins. This paper aims to provide a systematic introduction to the discovery, distribution, pathogenic mechanism, in vivo biosynthesis, and in vitro artificial synthesis of AZA toxins. Additionally, it will summarize various detection methods employed over the past 20 years, along with their advantages and disadvantages. This effort will contribute to the future development of rapid detection technologies and the invention of detection devices for AZAs in marine environmental samples.
Topics: Marine Toxins; Spiro Compounds; Polyether Toxins
PubMed: 38393050
DOI: 10.3390/md22020079 -
Marine Drugs Mar 2015Cyanobacteria of a picoplanktonic cell size (0.2 to 2.0 µm) are common organisms of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. However, due to their small size and... (Review)
Review
Cyanobacteria of a picoplanktonic cell size (0.2 to 2.0 µm) are common organisms of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. However, due to their small size and relatively short study history, picoplanktonic cyanobacteria, in contrast to the microplanktonic cyanobacteria, still remains a poorly studied fraction of plankton. So far, only little information on picocyanobacteria toxicity has been reported, while the number of reports concerning their presence in ecosystems is increasing. Thus, the issue of picocyanobacteria toxicity needs more researchers' attention and interest. In this report, we present information on the current knowledge concerning the picocyanobacteria toxicity, as well as their harmfulness and problems they can cause.
Topics: Animals; Cell Size; Cyanobacteria; Humans; Marine Toxins; Phytoplankton
PubMed: 25793428
DOI: 10.3390/md13031497 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2018By the end of 2017, there were seven marine-derived pharmaceutical substances that have been approved by the FDA for clinical use as drugs[...].
By the end of 2017, there were seven marine-derived pharmaceutical substances that have been approved by the FDA for clinical use as drugs[...].
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Humans; Marine Toxins; Neoplasms; Periodicals as Topic
PubMed: 29364147
DOI: 10.3390/md16020041 -
Toxins Aug 2022Tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent paralytic sodium channel blocker, is an intriguing marine toxin. Widely distributed in nature, TTX has attracted attention in various... (Review)
Review
Tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent paralytic sodium channel blocker, is an intriguing marine toxin. Widely distributed in nature, TTX has attracted attention in various scientific fields, from biomedical studies to environmental safety concerns. Despite a long history of studies, many issues concerning the biosynthesis, origin, and spread of TTX in animals and ecosystems remain. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on TTX circulation inside TTX-bearing animal bodies. We focus on the advances in TTX detection at the cellular and subcellular levels, providing an expanded picture of intra-organismal TTX migration mechanisms. We believe that this review will help address the gaps in the understanding of the biological function of TTX and facilitate the development of further studies involving TTX-bearing animals.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Sodium Channel Blockers; Tetrodotoxin
PubMed: 36006238
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080576