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Toxins
Special Issues
Eco-Toxins: Exploring Biological, Ecological and Environmental Impacts
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Eco-Toxins: Exploring Biological, Ecological and Environmental Impacts

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine and Freshwater Toxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 3699

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Masi

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: natural products; secondary metabolites; bioactive compounds; spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonietta Siciliano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecotoxicity; water treatment; emerging contaminants; rare earth elements (REE); human and environmental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In natural ecosystems, plants and microbes engage in complex interactions, yielding a diverse array of specialized (secondary) metabolites, including toxins, which exert significant influence on ecological dynamics. Once regarded exclusively as deleterious agents, toxins now reveal multifaceted roles within biological systems. Their effects transcend mere toxicity, exerting influence on crucial ecological interactions, including the modulation of plant–pathogen relationships and the facilitation of plant–plant communication.

As stewards of our environment, it is essential to understand the ecological and environmental impacts of toxins.

This Special Issue aims to explore the different aspects of toxins, encompassing not only the examination of their chemical structures and biological functions but also their ecological roles and environmental effects. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines insights from chemistry and ecotoxicology, the objective is to clarify the complex contributions of toxins to ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity.

We welcome contributions that shed light on the isolation and characterization of novel toxins, as well as those that elucidate their ecological importance and environmental consequences. Additionally, we encourage studies that investigate the interactions between toxins and ecological processes, facilitating a holistic comprehension of their roles in natural systems.

Dr. Marco Masi
Dr. Antonietta Siciliano
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 double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins 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 2700 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.

Keywords

  • toxins
  • chemical compositions
  • biological functionalities
  • ecological roles
  • environmental repercussions
  • interdisciplinary approach
  • chemistry
  • ecotoxicology
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • biodiversity

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 606 KiB  
Article
Toxicity Assessment of (4Z)-Lachnophyllum and (4Z,8Z)-Matricaria Lactones: Implications for Environmental Safety of Bioherbicides
by Edith Guadalupe Padilla Suarez, Jesús G. Zorrilla, Marisa Spampinato, Teresa Pannullo, Francesca Esposito, Mónica Fernández-Aparicio, Giovanni Libralato, Antonietta Siciliano, Marco Masi and Alessio Cimmino
Toxins 2025, 17(4), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17040169 - 1 Apr 2025
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Abstract
(4Z,8Z)-Matricaria lactone (MAT) and (4Z)-lachnophyllum lactone (LAC) are natural acetylenic furanones with bioherbicidal potential. This study evaluates their possibilities and ecotoxicological impact on aquatic (Aliivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, and Daphnia magna) and terrestrial [...] Read more.
(4Z,8Z)-Matricaria lactone (MAT) and (4Z)-lachnophyllum lactone (LAC) are natural acetylenic furanones with bioherbicidal potential. This study evaluates their possibilities and ecotoxicological impact on aquatic (Aliivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, and Daphnia magna) and terrestrial (Caenorhabditis elegans, Lepidum sativum) model organisms. MAT exhibited rapid degradation, with 90% decomposition within 24 h and over 98% by day 16, while LAC was more stable, degrading by only 8.5% in 24 h and 67% by day 16. Despite its rapid breakdown, MAT exhibited higher acute toxicity to A. fischeri (EC10 = 0.063 mg L−1; EC50 = 0.642 mg L−1) compared to LAC (EC10 = 0.524 mg L−1; EC50 = 8.078 mg L−1). Toxicity patterns in R. subcapitata differed, with MAT promoting slightly higher growth compared to the control, suggesting hormetic effects (EC10 = 3.417 mg L−1; EC50 = 4.520 mg L−1), while LAC inhibited growth concentration (EC10 = 0.304 mg L−1; EC50 = 9.880 mg L−1). Both compounds immobilized D. magna, with LAC showing greater delayed toxicity (EC50 = 1.728 mg L−1 vs. MAT EC50 = 2.239 mg L−1). Furthermore, for L. sativum, there were no effects on the germination, but effects were observed in the lengths of the shoots (LAC EC50 = 85.89 mg L−1 vs. MAT EC50 = 82.30 mg L−1). In contrast, C. elegans showed no mortality, suggesting lower terrestrial toxicity. These findings suggest that MAT and LAC may pose risks to aquatic ecosystems through runoff or leaching, necessitating further studies on their degradation products, soil microbiota, and non-target terrestrial organisms. Comparative analyses with conventional herbicides highlight MAT and LAC as selective, lower-impact alternatives. Future research should focus on their effects on terrestrial organisms, the ecological safety of degradation products, and large-scale bioassays to ensure their sustainability in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Toxins: Exploring Biological, Ecological and Environmental Impacts)
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Review

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24 pages, 3424 KiB  
Review
Mycotoxin Biodegradation by Bacillus Bacteria—A Review
by Thanh Nguyen, Xiaojing Chen, Linlin Ma and Yunjiang Feng
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110478 - 4 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2767
Abstract
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various types of fungi that are known to contaminate various food products; their presence in the food chain poses significant risks to human and animal health and leads to enormous economic losses in the food and [...] Read more.
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various types of fungi that are known to contaminate various food products; their presence in the food chain poses significant risks to human and animal health and leads to enormous economic losses in the food and feed industry worldwide. Ensuring food safety and quality by detoxifying mycotoxin is therefore of paramount importance. Several procedures to control fungal toxins have been extensively investigated, such as preventive measures, physical and chemical methods, and biological strategies. In recent years, microbial degradation of mycotoxins has attracted much attention due to its reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Notably, bacterial species from the Bacillus genus have emerged as promising candidates for mycotoxin decontamination owing to their diverse metabolic capabilities and resilience in harsh environmental conditions. This review manuscript aims to provide a summary of recent studies on the biodegradation of fungal toxins by Bacillus bacteria, thereby illustrating their potential applications in the development of mycotoxin-degrading products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Toxins: Exploring Biological, Ecological and Environmental Impacts)
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