Dear Colleagues,                

Marine biotoxins are synthesized by various marine cyanobacteria and microalgae (dinoflagellates, diatoms). Many of these compounds bioaccumulate in the food chain, including commercially and ecologically important fish and shellfish species, and often reach concentrations capable of causing significant illness. To avoid the risk associated with the consumption of contaminated seafood, improved detection methods are actively being developed and refined. Marine biotoxins encompass a large and diverse group of chemical compounds with different structures and modes of action. Knowledge of their biological targets is essential for their efficient and specific detection. This Special Issue invites submissions of original research or review articles highlighting updated knowledge regarding the mechanisms of action of marine biotoxins and their antagonists, with an emphasis on the development of specific binding assays, including the optimization of critical steps, new labelling methodologies, assessment of matrix effects, intra- and inter-laboratory validation approaches, the application of these assays for the detection of toxins in producing microorganisms for monitoring toxin transfer through the food web, and their integration into risk assessment programs. Toxin antagonists are of particular interest because of their low inherent toxicity and the ability to block the deleterious effects of marine biotoxins, both in vivo and in vitro. This makes them ideal candidates for developing therapeutic agents capable of effectively treating toxin-induced illnesses.

Dr. Hélène Taiana Darius
Prof. Dr. Richard Wayne Litaker
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• marine biotoxins
• specific binding assays
• toxin antagonists
• toxin transfer
• specific detection
• toxin-induced illnesses