Special Issue "Algal Toxins"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. John P. Berry
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 354 Marine Science Building, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
Website: http://www.fiu.edu/~berryj/
E-Mail:
Interests: cyanobacteria; toxins; bioactive compounds; zebrafish embryo model; natural products

Dear Colleagues,

Marine and freshwater algae are recognized to produce a diverse array of toxic or otherwise bioactive metabolites. These toxic metabolites are globally widespread, and humans and other animals can be exposed to them through both direct routes, including contamination of drinking water and recreational exposure, and indirect routes, including accumulation of these toxins by (and consequent contamination of) various species of fish, shellfish and other animals used as food. Exposure to these toxins has been linked to both acute health effects, including numerous cases of severe illness and mortality, as well as possible long-term health effects, ranging from higher incidence of certain cancers and neurodegenerative disease to prenatal developmental dysfunction. As such algal toxins are emerging as a potentially important human and environmental health concern. Accordingly, a growing number of studies have likewise emerged to address this issue. Areas of investigation particularly include (1) identification and characterization of new toxins; (2) genes and pathways for biosynthesis; (3) bioaccumulation in aquatic food-webs; (4) environmental and ecological factors that contribute to toxin production; (5) methods and technologies for effective detection and monitoring of toxins; (6) epidemiological studies to evaluate the human health impacts of toxins; and (7) strategies and technologies for mitigation of these threats to human health. In addition to their roles as toxins, a number of these bioactive metabolites have also been investigated with respect to possible development as drugs, or otherwise biomedically useful agents, addressing a range of pharmacological targets, as well as other applications with potential commercial importance, including herbicides and pesticides. This special issue will present a relevant sample of current studies investigating these various aspects of algal toxins.

Prof. Dr. John P. Berry
Guest Editor

Related Special Issues in other Journals:

Algal Toxins in Marine Drugs

Submission

All papers should be submitted to toxins@mdpi.org with copy to the guest editor. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites.

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed monthly journal published by Molecular Diversity Preservation International.

Article Processing Charges (APC) for publication in this open access journal are waived for well-prepared manuscripts submitted by 30 June 2010. English correction or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those paper accepted for publication, that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

• cyanobacteria
• dinoflagellates
• diatoms
• harmful algal blooms
• polyketides
• non-ribsomal peptides
• chemical ecology
• ecotoxicology

Type of Paper: Review
Title: A Review on Toxic and Harmful Algae in Greek Coastal Waters
Authors: Ignatiades Lydia¹ and Olympia Gotsis-Skretas²
Affiliations: ¹ National Center of Scientific Research “Demokritos” Institute of Biology, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; E-Mail: lyigna@otenet.gr
² Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Abstract: The Greek coastal waters are subjected to occurrences of toxic and potentially toxic algae (those producing and/or potentially producing toxins) and harmful algae (non-toxic producers but causing harm at multiple levels) whose taxonomy varies in space and time. Most cases occur during the period spring-summer-autumn and are associated with eutrophication effects. Confirmed cases of toxic algae have been attributed to Ostreopsis ovata, Gymnodinium breve, Dinophysis accuminata and Alexandrium minutum. Identified potentially toxic were certain Prorocentrum species (P. borbonicum, P. emarginatum, P. levis, P. lima and P. rhathymum) and those classified as harmful algae were Noctiluca scintillans and certain blue-green algae. In this work an attempt has been made to review the pertinent studies of the area focusing on the environmental parameters related to the occurrences of the relevant species.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Association Between Biotic and Abiotic Parameters and the Occurrence of Potentially Toxic Cyanobacteria in a Brazilian Reservoir
Authors: Lenora N.L. Gomes¹, Silvia M.A. Correia Oliveira², Alessandra Giani¹ and Eduardo von Sperling²
Affiliations: ¹ Departament of Botanic, ICB, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil; E-Mail: leludolf@hotmail.com (L.N.L.G.)
² Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil; E-Mail: eduardo@desa.ufmg.br (E.V.S.)
Abstract: In the past years cyanobacterial blooms occured frequently in the Vargem das Flores reservoir, leading to a serious concern about the production of toxic metabolites. A Three years monitoring program was undertaken to investigate the associations between physical, chemical and biological features and the occurrence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in this water supply reservoir. According to the results the water column profiles presented a different behavior for each sampling site. The cyanobacteria group followed a seasonal pattern during the three years research period. The group was absent in the dry period, returning after the onset of stratification (warm season). A succession pattern was observed within the cyanobacteria group in the reservoir. The Aphanocapsa genus (picoplankton) was dominant in the last period. PCA analysis showed negative correlation between cyanobacteria and orthophosphate and a higher concentration of phosphorus was observed just before the occurrence of cyanobacteria. It may be assumed that the prevalence of picoplanktonic species is a clear evidence of ecological alterations in the aquatic environment. The preventive and corrective techniques implemented in the watershed basin point out a general improvement of the water quality.