http://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/special_issues/marine-biotoxins-md/ Dear Colleagues, Human poisonings due to exposures to marine biotoxins have occurred in the past and represent naturally occurring events, that have been attracting an increasing interest from the scientific community. The last ten years, in particular, have witnessed a growing body of knowledge on the chemistry, mechanisms of action, toxicity, ecology and distribution, as well as the health impact of marine biotoxins. Research efforts have led to a deeper understanding of many aspects of marine biotoxins and their impact on living organisms, while novel issues have been recognized. For instance, “new” toxin producers have been identified, and “old” ones are being characterized using molecular probes. The number of toxins isolated, chemically characterized and/or synthesized has increased, and new groups of biotoxins have been discovered. Likewise, the methodology for toxin detection has been continuously developed, providing both instrumental and bio-molecular options. Biochemical tools have been increasingly used to clarify the mechanisms of action of toxins, and the “omic” approaches have entered the biotoxin field. The toxicology of biotoxins has been advancing, taking into consideration the real conditions of human and animal exposure to these compounds. It’s time to gather the information available on novel issues in marine biotoxins, to critically evaluate what we know and pinpoint the many unknowns, thereby providing a broad perspective to support the scientific community in its next efforts to understand and exploit the complexity of the chemistry and biology of marine biotoxins. Prof. Dr. Gian Paolo Rossini Guest Editor Related Special Issues in other Journals Marine Biotoxins: Novel Issues about Old Compounds in Toxins Submission All papers should be submitted to marinedrugs@mdpi.com with copy to the Editors. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites. Both, research articles and review articles are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editors for announcment on this website. Submitted papers should not have been published previously, nor be 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. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a paper Open Access publication fees are 1000 CHF per paper. English correction fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (1250 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.). List of Related Papers Klisch, M.; Häder, D. P. Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids and Marine Toxins - The Common and the Different. Mar. Drugs 2008, 6, 147-163. Twiner, M. J.; Rehmann, N.; Hess, P.; Doucette, G. J. Azaspiracid Shellfish Poisoning: A Review on the Chemistry, Ecology, and Toxicology with an Emphasis on Human Health Impacts. Mar. Drugs 2008, 6, 39-72. Paz, B.; Daranas, A. H.; Norte, M.; Riobó, P.; Franco, J. M.; Fernández, J. J. Yessotoxins, a Group of Marine Polyether Toxins: an Overview. Mar. Drugs 2008, 6, 73-102. Berry, J. P.; Gantar, M.; Perez, M. H.; Berry, G.; Noriega, F. G. Cyanobacterial Toxins as Allelochemicals with Potential Applications as Algaecides, Herbicides and Insecticides. Mar. Drugs 2008, 6, 117-146. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/6/1838/ Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) occurs mainly when humans ingest finfish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). The complexity and variability of such toxins have made it difficult to develop reliable methods to routinely monitor CFP with specificity and sensitivity. This review aims to describe the methodologies available for CTX detection, including those based on the toxicological, biochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical properties of CTXs. Selecting any of these methodological approaches for routine monitoring of ciguatera may be dependent upon the applicability of the method. However, identifying a reference validation method for CTXs is a critical and urgent issue, and is dependent upon the availability of certified CTX standards and the coordinated action of laboratories. Reports of CFP cases in European hospitals have been described in several countries, and are mostly due to travel to CFP endemic areas. Additionally, the recent detection of the CTX-producing tropical genus Gambierdiscus in the eastern Atlantic Ocean of the northern hemisphere and in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the confirmation of CFP in the Canary Islands and possibly in Madeira, constitute other reasons to study the onset of CFP in Europe [1]. The question of the possible contribution of climate change to the distribution of toxin-producing microalgae and ciguateric fish is raised. The impact of ciguatera onset on European Union (EU) policies will be discussed with respect to EU regulations on marine toxins in seafood. Critical analysis and availability of methodologies for CTX determination is required for a rapid response to suspected CFP cases and to conduct sound CFP risk analysis. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/6/1838/ Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CEST Marine Drugs 2010-06-14 8 6 Review 1838 1907 1660-3397 Update on Methodologies Available for Ciguatoxin Determination: Perspectives to Confront the Onset of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in Europe 2010-06-14 doi: 10.3390/md8061838 Caillaud De la Iglesia Darius Pauillac Aligizaki Fraga Chinain Diogène http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/4/1122/ The production of natural toxins is an interesting aspect, which characterizes the physiology and the ecology of a number of marine species that use them for defence/offence purposes. Cnidarians are of particular concern from this point of view; their venoms are contained in specialized structures–the nematocysts–which, after mechanical or chemical stimulation, inject the venom in the prey or in the attacker. Cnidarian stinging is a serious health problem for humans in the zones where extremely venomous jellyfish or anemones are common, such as in temperate and tropical oceanic waters and particularly along several Pacific coasts, and severe cases of envenomation, including also lethal cases mainly induced by cubomedusae, were reported. On the contrary, in the Mediterranean region the problem of jellyfish stings is quite modest, even though they can have anyhow an impact on public health and be of importance from the ecological and economic point of view owing to the implications on ecosystems and on some human activities such as tourism, bathing and fishing. This paper reviews the knowledge about the various aspects related to the occurrence and the stinging of the Mediterranean scyphozoan jellyfish as well as the activity of their venoms. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/4/1122/ Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CEST Marine Drugs 2010-04-04 8 4 Review 1122 1152 1660-3397 Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae 2010-04-04 doi: 10.3390/md8041122 Mariottini Pane http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/3/658/ In this review, we focus on processes, organs and systems targeted by the marine toxins yessotoxin (YTX), okadaic acid (OA) and palytoxin (PTX). The effects of YTX and their basis are analyzed from data collected in the mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis, the annelid Enchytraeus crypticus, Swiss CD1 mice and invertebrate and vertebrate cell cultures. OA and PTX, two toxins with a better established mode of action, are analyzed with regard to their effects on development. The amphibian Xenopus laevis is used as a model, and the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus (FETAX) as the experimental protocol. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/3/658/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Marine Drugs 2010-03-16 8 3 Review 658 677 1660-3397 Targets and Effects of Yessotoxin, Okadaic Acid and Palytoxin: A Differential Review 2010-03-16 doi: 10.3390/md8030658 Franchini Malagoli Ottaviani http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/1/173/ To avoid predation, holothuroids produce feeding-deterrent molecules in their body wall and viscera, the so-called saponins. Five tropical sea cucumber species of the family Holothuriidae were investigated in order to study their saponin content in two different organs, the body wall and the Cuvierian tubules. Mass spectrometry techniques (MALDI- and ESI-MS) were used to detect and analyze saponins. The smallest number of saponins was observed in Holothuria atra, which contained a total of four congeners, followed by Holothuria leucospilota, Pearsonothuria graeffei and Actinopyga echinites with six, eight and ten congeners, respectively. Bohadschia subrubra revealed the highest saponin diversity (19 congeners). Saponin mixtures also varied between the two body compartments within a given animal. A semi-quantitative approach completed these results and showed that a high diversity of saponins is not particularly correlated to a high saponin concentration. Although the complexity of the saponin mixtures described makes the elucidation of their respective biological roles difficult, the comparisons between species and between body compartments give some clues about how these molecules may act as predator repellents. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/1/173/ Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CET Marine Drugs 2010-01-21 8 1 Article 173 189 1660-3397 Qualitative and Quantitative Saponin Contents in Five Sea Cucumbers from the Indian Ocean 2010-01-21 doi: 10.3390/md8010173 Séverine Van Dyck Pascal Gerbaux Patrick Flammang