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Toxins Jan 2024Feed-, food-, water- and plant-related toxins are a major threat for animal and human health worldwide [...].
Feed-, food-, water- and plant-related toxins are a major threat for animal and human health worldwide [...].
Topics: Animals; Humans; Animals, Domestic; Food; Toxins, Biological; Water
PubMed: 38251255
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16010039 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Dec 2023One of the possible roles of secondary plant metabolites, including toxins, is facilitating plant-animal communication. Lethal cases of pasture poisoning show that the... (Review)
Review
One of the possible roles of secondary plant metabolites, including toxins, is facilitating plant-animal communication. Lethal cases of pasture poisoning show that the message is not always successfully conveyed. As the focus of poisoning lies in the clinical aspects, the external circumstances of pasture poisoning are widely unknown. To document poisoning conditions in cattle, sheep, goats, and horses on pastures and to compile a checklist of plants involved in either poisoning or co-existence (zero poisoning), published case reports were evaluated as primary sources. The number of affected animal individuals was estimated within abundance classes from 0 to more than 100. The checklist of poisonous plants comprised 52 taxa. Of these, 13 taxa were deemed safe (no reference was found indicating poisoning), 11 taxa were associated with evidence-based zero poisoning (positive list), and 28 taxa were associated with poisoning (negative list). Nine plant taxa caused poisoning in more than 100 animal individuals. Zero poisoning accounted for 40% and poisoning accounted for 60% of a total of 85 cases. Poisoning was most often associated with a limited choice of feed (24.7%), followed by overgrazing (12.9%), seasonally scarce feed (10.6%), and co-ingestion of grass (4.7%). Hunger interferes with plant-animal co-existence, while zero poisoning improves it. In conclusion, poisonous plants in pastures may communicate their toxicity if the animals have enough alternative feed plants. An individual animal might utterly perceive the communication of toxicity by the plant species but be forced to ignore the message owing to a limited choice of feed options.
PubMed: 38136831
DOI: 10.3390/ani13243795 -
Harmful Algae Nov 2023The impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on economies, public health, ecosystems, and aquaculture across the globe have all increased in recent decades, and this has... (Review)
Review
The impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on economies, public health, ecosystems, and aquaculture across the globe have all increased in recent decades, and this has been acutely the case in China. Here, we review the history of HABs and HABs research in China, as well as recent trends in HABs and future prospects of HAB science in China. The most updated analyses demonstrated that the number of HAB events, the number of HAB species, the aerial coverage of HABs, and the impacts of HABs in Chinese waters during the 21 century were all higher than that during the last two decades of the 20 century. The increase in the number of HABs in China has been significantly correlated with the increased discharge of ammonium and total phosphorus into coastal waters (p < 0.01 for both). Notable newly recognized events this century have included chronic HABs caused by Prorocentrum donghaiense and Karenia mikimotoi, a paralytic shellfish poisoning event caused by Gymnodinium catenatum that sickened 80 people, brown tides caused by Aureococcus anophagefferens, green tides caused by Ulva prolifera, golden tides caused by Sargassum horneri, and the disruption of a nuclear power plant caused by a bloom of Phaeocystis globosa. A series of key discoveries regarding HABs has been made this century including documentation of nearly all known HAB toxins in Chinese waters, discovery of novel cyst-formation and/or life stages of multiple HABs-causing species, identification of the chemical and physical oceanographic drivers of multiple HABs including those formed by P. donghaiense, K. mikimotoi, and U. prolifera, and the successful mitigation of HABs via the use of modified clay approaches. Future research prospects highlighted include the use of macroalgae as a means to prevent, mitigate, and control (PCM) HABs and the process by which multi-disciplinary studies involving molecular approaches (omics), remote in situ detection, artificial intelligence, and mega-data analyses might be used to develop refined and realistic HAB forecasting platforms. Collectively, this review demonstrates the significant evolution of HAB science since the 20 century in China and demonstrates that while HABs in China are complex and widespread, recent and on-going discoveries make the development of detailed understanding and effective measures to mitigate the negative effects of HABs a hopeful outcome in the coming years.
Topics: Humans; Harmful Algal Bloom; Ecosystem; Artificial Intelligence; Dinoflagellida; China
PubMed: 37951615
DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2023.102499 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023species are among the filamentous fungi with the most pronounced impact on agricultural production and human health. The mycotoxins produced by pathogenic not only...
species are among the filamentous fungi with the most pronounced impact on agricultural production and human health. The mycotoxins produced by pathogenic not only attack various plants including crops, causing various plant diseases that lead to reduced yields and even death, but also penetrate into the food chain of humans and animals to cause food poisoning and consequent health hazards. Although sporadic studies have revealed some of the biosynthetic pathways of toxins, they are insufficient to satisfy the need for a comprehensive understanding of toxin production. In this study, we focused on 35 serious pathogenic species with available genomes and systematically analyzed the ubiquity of the distribution of identified - and non--derived fungal toxin biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs) in these species through the mining of core genes and the comparative analysis of corresponding BGCs. Additionally, novel sesterterpene synthases and PKS_NRPS clusters were discovered and analyzed. This work is the first to systematically analyze the distribution of related mycotoxin biosynthesis in pathogenic species. These findings enhance the knowledge of mycotoxin production and provide a theoretical grounding for the prevention of fungal toxin production using biotechnological approaches.
PubMed: 37623621
DOI: 10.3390/jof9080850 -
Chonnam Medical Journal May 2024Ayurveda is one of the oldest and most widely practiced traditional medical systems in the world. The ancient knowledge in this traditional medical system has yet to be... (Review)
Review
Ayurveda is one of the oldest and most widely practiced traditional medical systems in the world. The ancient knowledge in this traditional medical system has yet to be fully explored. The interaction of rich knowledge from various traditional systems of medicine can open new pathways in the herbal drug discovery process. Apart from other hurdles in discovering plant-based medicines, the lack of knowledge of the differences and similarities between the theoretical doctrines of these systems is the greatest impediment to their convergence. is an Ayurvedic medicine section that deals with formulations that include minerals/metals, particularly (mercury). According to the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, the most widely used heavy metals are mercury, arsenic, and lead. However, contemporary scientists are concerned about the use of heavy metals in Ayurvedic preparation. In this review article, we will discuss Ayurvedic medicine and the toxic effects of heavy metals.
PubMed: 38841605
DOI: 10.4068/cmj.2024.60.2.97 -
Journal of Advanced Research Sep 2023The excessive dosage of pesticides required for agronomic reality results in growing contamination of pesticide residues in environment, thus bringing high risks to crop...
INTRODUCTION
The excessive dosage of pesticides required for agronomic reality results in growing contamination of pesticide residues in environment, thus bringing high risks to crop production and human health.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to unveil a novel mechanism for catabolism of two pesticides MTR and FSA facilitated by an uncharacterized Phase II reaction enzyme termed acetyltransferase-1 (ACE1) in rice and to make assessment of its potential for bioremediation to minimize the risks to crop production and food safety.
METHODS
We developed genetically improved cultivars overexpressing OsACE1 (OE) and knockout mutant lines by CRISPR-Cas9 technology to identify the MTR and FSA detoxic and metabolic functions and characterized their metabolites and conjugates by HPLC-LTQ-MS/MS.
RESULTS
OsACE1 overexpression conferred rice resistance to toxicity of MTR/FSA compared to wild-type, manifested by improved plant elongation and biomass, attenuated cellular injury, and increased chlorophyll accumulation. The OE plants accumulated significantly less parent MTR/FSA and more degradative metabolites, and removed MTR/FSA from their growth medium by 1.38 and 1.61 folds over the wild-type. In contrast, knocking out OsACE1 led to compromised growth fitness and intensified toxic symptoms under MTR/FSA stress and accumulation of more toxic MTR and FSA in rice. The reduced metabolites of MTR and FSA detected in the Cas9 plants suggest the impaired capability of OsACE1 function.
CONCLUSIONS
These results signified that OsACE1 expression is required for detoxifying the two poisoning chemicals in rice and plays a critical role in accelerating breakdown of the pesticides mainly through Phase II reaction mechanism pathways.
Topics: Humans; Oryza; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Acetyltransferases; Pesticides
PubMed: 36494064
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.12.002 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023Manganese (Mn) is among one of the essential trace elements for normal plant development; however, excessive Mn can cause plant growth and development to be hindered....
Manganese (Mn) is among one of the essential trace elements for normal plant development; however, excessive Mn can cause plant growth and development to be hindered. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of plant root response to Mn poisoning remain unclear. In the present study, results revealed that the root growth was inhibited when exposed to Mn poisoning. Physiological results showed that the antioxidase enzyme activities (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase) and the proline, malondialdehyde, and soluble sugar contents increased significantly under Mn toxicity stress (100 μM Mn), whereas the soluble protein and four hormones' (indolebutyric acid, abscisic acid, indoleacetic acid, and gibberellic acid 3) contents decreased significantly. In addition, the Mn, Fe, Na, Al, and Se contents in the roots increased significantly, whereas those of Mg, Zn, and K decreased significantly. Furthermore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was used to test the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of soybean root under Mn poisoning. The results found 45,274 genes in soybean root and 1430 DEGs under Mn concentrations of 5 (normal) and 100 (toxicity) μM. Among these DEGs, 572 were upregulated and 858 were downregulated, indicating that soybean roots may initiate complex molecular regulatory mechanisms on Mn poisoning stress. The results of quantitative RT-PCR indicated that many DEGs were upregulated or downregulated markedly in the roots, suggesting that the regulation of DEGs may be complex. Therefore, the regulatory mechanism of soybean root on Mn toxicity stress is complicated. Present results lay the foundation for further study on the molecular regulation mechanism of function genes involved in regulating Mn tolerance traits in soybean roots.
Topics: Transcriptome; Glycine max; Plant Roots; Manganese; Biomass; Homeostasis; Plant Growth Regulators; Sequence Analysis, RNA
PubMed: 37628908
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612727 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species...
Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species are beneficial, some can be poisonous, causing economic losses and animal health issues for livestock. Consequently, this study is the first comprehensive report on the traditional phyto-toxicological knowledge in District Muzaffarabad and the assessment of its authenticity through experimental studies in rats. The data regarding traditional knowledge was gathered from 70 key respondents through semi-structured interviews, which was quantitatively analyzed and authenticated through plant extract testing on Wistar female rats and comparison with published resources. A total of 46 poisonous plant species belonging to 23 families and 38 genera were reported to be poisonous in the study area. Results revealed that leaves were the most toxic plant parts (24 species, 52.1%), followed by the whole plant (18 species, 39.1%), stem (17 species, 36.9%), and seeds (10 species, 21.7%). At the organ level, liver as most susceptible affected by 13 species (28.2%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (15 species, 32.6%), nervous system (13 species, 8.2%), dermis (8 species, 17.3%), renal (7 species, 15.2%), respiratory (4 species, 8.7%), cardiovascular system (3 species, 6.5%), and reproductive system (2 species, 4.3%). The poisonous plant species with high Relative frequency citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL) were (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100) (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), and (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100). Experimental assessment of acute toxicity assay in rats revealed that was the most toxic plant with LD of (4,000 mg/kg), trailed by (4,200 mg/kg), (4,500 mg/kg), and (4,700 mg/kg); however, other plants showed moderate to mild toxicity. The major clinical observations were anorexia, piloerection, dyspnea, salivation, tachypnea, constipation, diarrhea, tremor, itchiness, and dullness. This study showed that numerous poisonous plants pose a significant risk to the livestock industry within Himalayan territory, leading to substantial economic losses. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to conduct further comprehensive studies on the phytotoxicity of plants.
PubMed: 38420196
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1328133 -
Nature Communications Oct 2023The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and...
The sudden mortality of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2020 provoked considerable public interest and speculation. Poaching and malicious poisoning were excluded early on in the investigation. Other potential causes included environmental intoxication, infectious diseases, and increased habitat stress due to ongoing drought. Here we show evidence of the mortalities in Zimbabwe as fatal septicaemia associated with Bisgaard taxon 45, an unnamed close relative of Pasteurella multocida. We analyse elephant carcasses and environmental samples, and fail to find evidence of cyanobacterial or other intoxication. Post-mortem and histological findings suggest a bacterial septicaemia similar to haemorrhagic septicaemia caused by P. multocida. Biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis of six samples and genomic analysis of one sample confirm the presence of Bisgaard taxon 45. The genome sequence contains many of the canonical P. multocida virulence factors associated with a range of human and animal diseases, including the pmHAS gene for hyaluronidase associated with bovine haemorrhagic septicaemia. Our results demonstrate that Bisgaard taxon 45 is associated with a generalised, lethal infection and that African elephants are susceptible to opportunistically pathogenic Pasteurella species. This represents an important conservation concern for elephants in the largest remaining metapopulation of this endangered species.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cattle; Hemorrhagic Septicemia; Elephants; Pasteurella; Pasteurella multocida; Ecosystem
PubMed: 37880229
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Exposure to plants accounts for approximately 5% of human poisoning cases reported by poison control centers in North America and Europe. The aim of this study was to...
BACKGROUND
Exposure to plants accounts for approximately 5% of human poisoning cases reported by poison control centers in North America and Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate acute plant poisoning in patients aged 0-18 years admitted to a Romanian pediatric poison center, focusing on epidemiological and clinical aspects.
METHODS
A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, analyzing medical records for demographic information, clinical features, biological findings, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS
71 patients (aged 7 months to 16 years) presented with acute plant poisoning. Most cases were unintentional (92.9%), peaking during the autumn season. (18.3%), (9.8%), and (5%) were the most frequently involved plants. Gastrointestinal symptoms, especially vomiting, predominated. The Poisoning Severity Score classified most cases as mild (52.1%), with no severe or fatal cases. The mean length of hospitalization was 1.8 days.
CONCLUSIONS
Unintentional plant exposure, mainly in children under 5 years of age, accounted for more than 90% of cases. Gastrointestinal exposure and symptoms were prevalent, and treatment consisted mainly of symptomatic and supportive measures. Severe and fatal cases were rare, highlighting the generally favorable outcome and low incidence of severe poisoning in the pediatric population.
PubMed: 38539306
DOI: 10.3390/children11030271