Human brain development is a complex process,and animal models often have significant limitations.To address this,researchers have developed pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional structures,known as brain-li...Human brain development is a complex process,and animal models often have significant limitations.To address this,researchers have developed pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional structures,known as brain-like organoids,to more accurately model early human brain development and disease.To enable more consistent and intuitive reproduction of early brain development,in this study,we incorporated forebrain organoid culture technology into the traditional unguided method of brain organoid culture.This involved embedding organoids in matrigel for only 7 days during the rapid expansion phase of the neural epithelium and then removing them from the matrigel for further cultivation,resulting in a new type of human brain organoid system.This cerebral organoid system replicated the temporospatial characteristics of early human brain development,including neuroepithelium derivation,neural progenitor cell production and maintenance,neuron differentiation and migration,and cortical layer patterning and formation,providing more consistent and reproducible organoids for developmental modeling and toxicology testing.As a proof of concept,we applied the heavy metal cadmium to this newly improved organoid system to test whether it could be used to evaluate the neurotoxicity of environmental toxins.Brain organoids exposed to cadmium for 7 or 14 days manifested severe damage and abnormalities in their neurodevelopmental patterns,including bursts of cortical cell death and premature differentiation.Cadmium exposure caused progressive depletion of neural progenitor cells and loss of organoid integrity,accompanied by compensatory cell proliferation at ectopic locations.The convenience,flexibility,and controllability of this newly developed organoid platform make it a powerful and affordable alternative to animal models for use in neurodevelopmental,neurological,and neurotoxicological studies.展开更多
Alga toxins have recently emerged as an environmental risk factor,especially to neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.However,the associat...Alga toxins have recently emerged as an environmental risk factor,especially to neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.However,the association between the alga toxinsβ-N-methylamino-L-alanine(BMAA),brevetoxin B,cyanoginosin LR,okadaic acid and neurodegenerative diseases remains inadequately investigated.Therefore,the aim of this study was to elucidate the potential associations.Four sets of differentially expressed genes related with BMAA,brevetoxin B,cyanoginosin LR and okadaic acid in Homo sapiens and genes linked to neurodegenerative disease development were respectively collected from the Comparative Toxicogenomic Database.Metascape analysis and cluster community analysis of four alga toxins highlighted protein-protein interaction enrichment and hub genes,while biological processes analysis showed that the dominant pathways involved in harmful effects triggered by four alga toxins were the apoptotic signaling pathway,regulation of amyloid protein formation,inflammatory response and endoplasmic reticulum stress.Genes related to the interactions between four alga toxins and neurodegenerative diseases were selected and analyzed,revealing that the relevant pathways and genes were those involved in apoptotic mitochondrial changes and neuroinflammatory response pathways.The adverse outcome pathway frameworks were constructed according to the analysis results for toxins and associated neurodegenerative diseases.These discoveries provide a new perspective for us to gain a deeper understanding of the neurotoxic effects of four alga toxins.展开更多
The integration of phytochemistry into forensic science has emerged as a groundbreaking frontier,providing unprecedented insights into nature's secrets through the precise application of phytochemical fingerprinti...The integration of phytochemistry into forensic science has emerged as a groundbreaking frontier,providing unprecedented insights into nature's secrets through the precise application of phytochemical fingerprinting of phytotoxins as a cutting-edge approach.This study explores the dynamic intersection of phytochemistry and forensic science,highlighting how the unique phytochemical profiles of toxic plants and their secondary metabolites,serve as distinctive markers for forensic investigations.By utilizing advanced techniques such as Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography(UHPLC)and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry(HRMS),the detection and quantification of plant-derived are made more accurate in forensic contexts.Real-world case studies are presented to demonstrate the critical role of plant toxins in forensic outcomes and legal proceedings.The challenges,potential,and future prospects of integrating phytochemical fingerprinting of plant toxins into forensic science were discussed.This review aims to illuminate phytochemical fingerprinting of plant toxins as a promising tool to enhance the precision and depth of forensic analyses,offering new insights into the complex stories embedded in plant toxins.展开更多
Background:The One Health concept considers the interconnectivity,interactions and interdependence of humans,animals and the environment.Humans,animals and other organisms are constantly exposed to a wide range of nat...Background:The One Health concept considers the interconnectivity,interactions and interdependence of humans,animals and the environment.Humans,animals and other organisms are constantly exposed to a wide range of natural toxins present in the environment.Thus,there is growing concern about the potential detrimental effects that natural toxins could pose to achieve One Health.Interestingly,alkaloids,steroids and bioactive peptides obtained from natural toxins could be used for the development of therapeutic agents.Methodology:Our literature search focused on the following keywords;toxins,One Health,microbial toxins,mycotoxins,phytotoxins,phycotoxins,insect toxins and toxin effects.Google Scholar,Science Direct,PubMed and Web of Science were the search engines used to obtain primary databases.We chose relevant full-text articles and review papers published in English language only.The research was done between July 2022 and January 2023.Results:Natural toxins are poisonous substances comprising bioactive compounds produced by microorganisms,invertebrates,plants and animals.These compounds possess diverse structures and differ in biological function and toxicity,posing risks to human and animal health through the contamination of the environment,causing disease or death in certain cases.Findings from the articles reviewed revealed that effects of natural toxins on animals and humans gained more attention than the impact of natural toxins on the environment and lower organisms,irrespective of the significant roles that lower organisms play to maintain ecosystem balance.Also,systematic approaches for toxin control in the environment and utilization for beneficial purposes are inadequate in many regions.Remarkably,bioactive compounds present in natural toxins have potential for the development of therapeutic agents.These findings suggest that global,comprehensive and coordinated efforts are required for improved management of natural toxins through an interdisciplinary,One Health approach.Conclusion:Adopting a One Health approach is critical to addressing the effects of natural toxins on the health of humans,animals and the environment.展开更多
This paper summarized professor LI Xiuhui's experience in treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) complicated with opportunistic infections(OIs) using the methodology of “turbid toxins entering the blo...This paper summarized professor LI Xiuhui's experience in treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) complicated with opportunistic infections(OIs) using the methodology of “turbid toxins entering the blood and expelling pathogens outwardly”. OIs are significant cause of morbidity and mortality among AIDS patients. Professor LI Xiuhui believes that the pathogenesis of OIs lies in turbid toxins entering the blood, infecting the Sanjiao, damaging the nutrient Qi and defensive Qi, consuming Qi and essence, and impairing the primordial Qi. As a result, the five organs are weakened, pathogenic toxins overflow, leading to the occurrence of some related opportunistic infectious diseases in various systems throughout the body. Therefore, in treatment, the “penetrating and supporting method” and the “tonifying and supporting method” are used to consolidate and support the healthy Qi, allowing the pathogenic toxins to be expelled smoothly,so that the opportunistic infectious diseases can be cured or controlled.展开更多
Objective To study the transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins （PST） using four simulated marine food chains： dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense→Artemia Artemia salina→Mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis; A. tama...Objective To study the transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins （PST） using four simulated marine food chains： dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense→Artemia Artemia salina→Mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis; A. tamarense→N. awatschensis; A. tamarense→A, salina→Perch Lateolabrax japonicus; and A. tamarense→L, japonicus. Methods The ingestion of A. tamarense, a producer of PST, by L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina was first confirmed by microscopic observation of A. tamarense cells in the intestine samples of the three different organisms, and by the analysis of Chl.a levels in the samples. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly through the vector of A. salina was then studied, The toxicity of samples was measured using the AOAC mouse bioassay method, and the toxin content and profile of A. tamarense were analyzed by the HPLC method. Results Both A. salina and N. awatschensis could ingest A. tamarense cells. However, the ingestion capability of A. salina exceeded that of N. awatschensis. After the exposure to the culture of A. tamarense （2 000 cells·mL^-1） for 70 minutes, the content of Chl.a in A. salina and N. awatschensis reached 0.87 and 0.024 μg.mg^-1, respectively. Besides, A. tamarense cells existed in the intestines of L. japonicus, N. awatschensis and A. salina by microscopic observation. Therefore, the three organisms could ingest A. tamarense cells directly. A. salina could accumulate high content of PST, and the toxicity of A. salina in samples collected on days 1, 4, and 5 of the experiment was 2.18, 2.6, and 2.1 MU.g^-1, respectively. All extracts from the samples could lead to death of tested mice within 7 minutes, and the toxin content in anemia sample collected on the 1st day was estimated to be 1.65×10 ^5 μg STX equal/individual. Toxin accumulation in L japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly from the vector ofA. salina was also studied. The mice injected with extracts from L japonicus and N. awatschensis samples that accumulated PST either directly or indirectly showed PST intoxication symptoms, indicating that low levels of PST existed in these samples. Conclusion Paralytic shellfish toxins can be transferred to L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina from A. tamarense directly or indirectly via the food chains.展开更多
Recently, medicinal peptide molecules are of great interest to many international pharmaceutical companies, mainly because of their relatively lower research costs, shorter research cycles, and the greater likelihood ...Recently, medicinal peptide molecules are of great interest to many international pharmaceutical companies, mainly because of their relatively lower research costs, shorter research cycles, and the greater likelihood of being drugs, when compared with traditional small molecules. Due to the great variety in molecule structures and the diverse biological functions, disulfide-rich peptide toxins have become a shining molecular library for the development of polypeptide drugs. In view of the increasing amount of related publications, here we summarize the discovery, structural elucidation and chemical synthesis of disulfide-rich peptide toxins and their analogs.展开更多
The genc CPA and ETX encoding α and e toxins were amplified from the standard strain C60-2 of type D Clostridium perfingens by PCR, and then they were inserted into pet-Duct-1 vecto, respectively for the construction...The genc CPA and ETX encoding α and e toxins were amplified from the standard strain C60-2 of type D Clostridium perfingens by PCR, and then they were inserted into pet-Duct-1 vecto, respectively for the construction of co-expression plasmid pETDoet-1-CPA-ETX. The co-expression plasmid was transformed into BL21 （DE3） competent cells, at and e toxins proteins were induced by IPTG before analysis by SDS-PAGE. As a result, both of α and e toxins were detected at 43 and 34 KU by western-blot. Mice immunized with the co-expressed α and e toxins proteins produced high titers of neutralizing antibodies in the serum, which protected the mice against the attack of type D C. perfringens culture filtrate. In addition, mice immunized with the produced co-expressed α and e toxins proteins showed significantly higher surviving rate than with ε toxins protein alone when infected with culture filtrate of type D C. perfringens . These results indicated that co-expression of α and e toxins proteins could be used as a new method to prepare vaccines against the pathogens of multiple serotypes.展开更多
Venom （toxins） is an important trait evolved along the evolutionary tree of animals. Our knowledges on venoms, such as their origins and loss, the biological relevance and the coevolutionary patterns with other orga...Venom （toxins） is an important trait evolved along the evolutionary tree of animals. Our knowledges on venoms, such as their origins and loss, the biological relevance and the coevolutionary patterns with other organisms are greatly helpful in understanding many fundamental biological questions, i.e., the environmental adaptation and survival competition, the evolution shaped development and balance of venoms, and the sophisticated correlations among venom, immunity, body power, intelligence, their genetic basis, inherent association, as well as the cost-benefit and trade-offs of biological economy. Lethal animal envenomation can be found worldwide However, from foe to friend, toxin studies have led lots of important discoveries and exciting avenues in deciphering and fighting human diseases, including the works awarded the Nobel Prize and lots of key clinic therapeutics. According to our survey, so far, only less than 0.1% of the toxins of the venomous animals in China have been explored. We emphasize on the similarities shared by venom and immune systems, as well as the studies of toxin knowledge-based physiological toxin-like proteins/peptides （TLPs）. We propose the natural pairing hypothesis. Evolution links toxins with humans. Our mission is to find out the right natural pairings and interactions of our body elements with toxins, and with endogenous toxin-like molecules. Although, in nature, toxins may endanger human lives, but from a philosophical point of view, knowing them well is an effective way to better understand ourselves. So, this is why we study toxins.展开更多
The frequency and scale of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and marine algal toxin incidents have been increasing and spreading in the past two decades, causing damages to the marine environment and threatening human life th...The frequency and scale of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and marine algal toxin incidents have been increasing and spreading in the past two decades, causing damages to the marine environment and threatening human life through contaminated seafood. To better understand the effect of HAB and marine algal toxins on marine environment and human health in China, this paper overviews HAB occurrence and marine algal toxin incidents, as well as their environmental and health effects in this country. HAB has been increasing rapidly along the Chinese coast since the 1970s, and at least 512 documented HAB events have occurred from 1952 to 2002 in the Chinese mainland. It has been found that PSP and DSP toxins are distributed widely along both the northern and southern Chinese coasts. The HAB and marine algal toxin events during the 1990s in China were summarized, showing that the HAB and algal toxins resulted in great damages to local fisheries, marine culture, quality of marine environment, and human health. Therefore, to protect the coastal environment and human health, attention to HAB and marine algal toxins is urgently needed from the environmental and epidemiologicalview.展开更多
Microcystins (MCYSTs) isolated from blue-green algae,are hepatotoxic polypeptides.It will induce severe intrahepatic hemorrhage and liver necrosis at low concentrations in rats and mice.MCYST- LR is one of MCYSTs whic...Microcystins (MCYSTs) isolated from blue-green algae,are hepatotoxic polypeptides.It will induce severe intrahepatic hemorrhage and liver necrosis at low concentrations in rats and mice.MCYST- LR is one of MCYSTs which consists of 2 variable L- amino acids(leucine and arginine),3 D-amino acids and 2 unusualamino acids(including Adda).MCYSTs bind to protein phosphatase 1 and 2A,and strongly inhibit their activities.The resultant increase of phosphoprotein was referred to be involved in tumor-promoting activity in liver.According to the above results and animal study,MCYST-LR is a potent liver tumor promoter.There were 9 positive from 30 samples of pond-ditch water in high endemic county-Haimen by high-peformance liquid chromatograph and 3 already confirmed by liquid chromograph/mass spectrometer.The quantities of MCYSTs were different between drinking water of liver cancer cases and controls groups.122±0.057and 0.072±0.044μg/200ml respectively) by ELISA. It is not easy to remove by conventional water treatment procedures.The relationship between MCYSTs and oncogenes and anti-oncogenes are under studying.展开更多
As the oldest venomous animals,centipedes use their venom as a weapon to attack prey and for protection.Centipede venom,which contains many bioactive and pharmacologically active compounds,has been used for centuries ...As the oldest venomous animals,centipedes use their venom as a weapon to attack prey and for protection.Centipede venom,which contains many bioactive and pharmacologically active compounds,has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine,as shown by ancient records.Based on comparative analysis,we revealed the diversity of and differences in centipede toxin-like molecules between Scolopendra mojiangica,a substitute pharmaceutical material used in China,and S.subspinipes mutilans.More than 6000 peptides isolated from the venom were identified by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry(ESI-MS/MS)and inferred from the transcriptome.As a result,in the proteome of S.mojiangica,246 unique proteins were identified:one in five were toxin-like proteins or putative toxins with unknown function,accounting for a lower percentage of total proteins than that in S.mutilans.Transcriptome mining identified approximately 10 times more toxin-like proteins,which can characterize the precursor structures of mature toxinlike peptides.However,the constitution and quantity of the toxin transcripts in these two centipedes were similar.In toxicity assays,the crude venom showed strong insecticidal and hemolytic activity.These findings highlight the extensive diversity of toxin-like proteins in S.mojiangica and provide a new foundation for the medical-pharmaceutical use of centipede toxin-like proteins.展开更多
A 12-month program of monitoring potentially toxic microalgae(that produce lipophilic shellfi sh toxins; LSTs) and their toxins in bivalves was conducted from April 2006 to March 2007 in the Nanji Islands, East China ...A 12-month program of monitoring potentially toxic microalgae(that produce lipophilic shellfi sh toxins; LSTs) and their toxins in bivalves was conducted from April 2006 to March 2007 in the Nanji Islands, East China Sea. Two Dinophysis species, D. caudata and D. acuminata, were identifi ed, and D. caudat a was found to be the dominant species. D. caudata was detected in water samples between April and June 2006, and between February and March 2007. It reached its highest abundances in May, with a mean abundance of 1.38×10 2 cells/L in surface water and 1.25×10 2 cells/L in bottom water(<10 m deep). The temporal distribution of D. caudata was associated with the occurrence of LSTs in bivalve samples, which mostly occurred at the same time as D. caudata blooms, between April and July 2006. All of the cultured bivalves sampled between April and June were contaminated with LSTs, with an average toxicity of 85 μg okadaic acid(OA) eq./100 g meat, which was four times higher than the Chinese regulatory limit(20 μg OA eq./100 g meat). Ten out of fi fteen wild samples(66.7%) collected during the same period were positive for LSTs, and contained an average LST toxicity of 45 μg OA eq./100 g meat(more than twice the regulatory value). Cultured Patinopecten yessoensis collected on 15 May 2006 had the highest toxicity, 320 μg OA eq./100 g meat, and relatively high toxicities(80 to 160 μg OA eq./100 g meat) were found in bivalves until the end of July.展开更多
Bivalve farming plays a dominant role in mariculture in China.Paralytic shellfish toxins(PSTs)can be accumulated in bivalves and cause poisoning the consumers.A sensitive detection of PSTs can provide early warning to...Bivalve farming plays a dominant role in mariculture in China.Paralytic shellfish toxins(PSTs)can be accumulated in bivalves and cause poisoning the consumers.A sensitive detection of PSTs can provide early warning to decrease poisoning events in bivalve consuming.PSTs are traditionally examined using the whole soft-tissues.However,PSTs accumulation varies dramatically in different tissues of bivalves.Some tough tissues/organs(such as mantle),which account for a large proportion of the total soft body,exhibit a lower accumulation of PSTs and make the toxin extraction time-and reagent-consuming,potentially decreasing the accuracy and sensitivity of PSTs monitoring in bivalves.To develop a sensitive and cost-effective approach for PSTs examination in massively farmed bivalves,we fed three commercially important bivalves,Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis,Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas,and blue mussel Mytilus edulis with PSTs-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella,and detected PSTs concentration in different tissues.For all three bivalve species,the digestive gland accumulated much more PSTs than other tissues,and the digestive gland’s toxicity was significantly correlated with the PSTs toxicity of the whole soft-tissues,with r^(2)=0.94,0.92,and 0.94 for Yesso scallop,Pacific oyster,and blue mussel,respectively.When the toxicity of the whole soft-tissues reached 80μgSTXeq(100g)^(−1),the regulatory limit for commercial shellfish,the digestive gland’s toxicity reached 571.48,498.90,and 859.20μgSTXeq(100g)^(−1) in Yesso scallop,Pacific oyster,and blue mussel,respectively.Our results indicate that digestive gland can be used for the sensitive and cost-effective monitoring of PSTs in bivalves.展开更多
Although the exact mechanism（s）of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease（PD）is not well understood,mitochondrial dysfunction is proposed to play a central role.This proposal is strongly s...Although the exact mechanism（s）of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease（PD）is not well understood,mitochondrial dysfunction is proposed to play a central role.This proposal is strongly strengthened by the findings that compromised mitochondrial functions and/or exposure to mitochondrial toxins such as rotenone,paraquat,or MPTP causes degeneration of the midbrain dopaminergic.展开更多
Venom toxins are widely spread in nature, adopting diverse structures and functions. They often function by blocking or modulating important membrane protein targets thus can be promising therapeutic candidates and bi...Venom toxins are widely spread in nature, adopting diverse structures and functions. They often function by blocking or modulating important membrane protein targets thus can be promising therapeutic candidates and biophysical probes. In this review, we briefly discuss the total chemical synthesis of venom toxins including the different refolding strategies reported during the past decade as well as innovative approaches for structure determination.展开更多
Nutriology relies on advanced analytical tools to study the molecular compositions of food and provide key information on sample quality/safety. Small nutrients detection is challenging due to the high diversity and b...Nutriology relies on advanced analytical tools to study the molecular compositions of food and provide key information on sample quality/safety. Small nutrients detection is challenging due to the high diversity and broad dynamic range of molecules in food samples, and a further issue is to track low abundance toxins. Herein, we developed a novel plasmonic matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI MS)approach to detect small nutrients and toxins in complex biological emulsion samples. Silver nanoshells(SiO_2@-Ag) with optimized structures were used as matrices andachieved direct analysis of ~ 6 n L of human breast milk without any enrichment or separation. We performed identification and quantitation of small nutrients and toxins with limit-of-detection down to 0.4 pmol(for melamine) and reaction time shortened to minutes, which is superior to the conventional biochemical method currently in use. The developed approach contributes to the near-future application of MALDI MS in a broad field and personalized design of plasmonic materials for real-case bio-analysis.展开更多
Three-finger toxins （TFTs） are well-recognized non- enzymatic venom proteins found in snakes. However, although TFTs exhibit accelerated evolution, the drivers of this evolution remain poorly understood. The structu...Three-finger toxins （TFTs） are well-recognized non- enzymatic venom proteins found in snakes. However, although TFTs exhibit accelerated evolution, the drivers of this evolution remain poorly understood. The structural complexes between long-chain α-neurotoxins, a subfamily of TFTs, and their nicotinic acetylcholine receptor targets have been determined in previous research, providing an opportunity to address such questions. In the current study, we observed several previously identified positively selected sites （PSSs） and the highly variable C-terminal loop of these toxins at the toxin/receptor interface. Of interest, analysis of the molecular adaptation of the toxin-recognition regions in the corresponding receptors provided no statistical evidence for positive selection. However, these regions accumulated abundant amino acid variations in the receptors from the prey of snakes, suggesting that accelerated substitution of TFTs could be a consequence of adaptation to these variations. To the best of our knowledge, this atypical evolution, initially discovered in scorpions, is reported in snake toxins for the first time and may be applicable for the evolution of toxins from other venomous animals.展开更多
Dissected tissues of three shellfish species, the Chinese scallop, Chlamys farreri, Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarurn, and Razor shell, Solen strictu were evaluated for in vitro transformation of paralytic shellfi...Dissected tissues of three shellfish species, the Chinese scallop, Chlamys farreri, Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarurn, and Razor shell, Solen strictu were evaluated for in vitro transformation of paralytic shellfish poisoning （PSP） toxins. Tissue homogenates were incubated with extraction from toxic algae Alexandriurn rninutura to determine toxin conversion. The effects of heating and addition of a natural reductant （glutathione） on toxin conversion were also assessed. The toxin profile was investigated through high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection （HPLC-FLD）. The evident variations in the toxin content were observed only in Chinese scallop viscera homogenates. The concentration of GTX4 was reduced by 45% （approximately 0.8 μmol/dm^3） and 25% （approximately 1 μmol/dm^3） for GTX1, while GTX2 and GTX3 increased by six times （approximately 1 μmol/dm^3） and 3 times （approximately 0.3μmol/dm^3） respectively. Simultaneously, the total toxicity decreased by 38% during the 48 h incubation period, the final toxicity was 20.4 nmol STXeq/g. Furthermore, heated Chinese scallop viscera homogenates samples were compared with non-heated samples. The concentration of the GTX4 and GTX1 was clearly 28% （approximately 0.53 μmol/dm^3） and 17% （approximately 0.69μmol/dm^3） higher in heated samples, GTX2 and GTX3 were four times （0.66 μmol/dm^3） and two times （0.187 μmol/dm^3） lower respectively. GSH （＋） Chinese scallop viscera homogenates samples were compared with GSH （-） samples, the concentration in the GTX4 and GTX1 was 9% （approximately 0.12 μmol/dm^3） and 11% （approximately 0.36 μmol/dm^3） lower respectively, GTX2 and GTX3 was 17% （approximately 0.14 μmol/dm^3） and 19% （approximately 0.006 μmol/dm^3） higher respectively. In contrast,there was a little change in the concentration of PSP toxins of Manila clam and Razor shell tissue ho- mogenates. These observations on three shellfish tissues confirmed that there were species-specific differences in PSP toxins transformation. PSP toxins transformation was more pronounced in viscera tissue than in muscle tissue. PSP toxins was possibly interfered by some carbamoylase enzyme, and the activity in Chinese scallop viscera tissue is more remarkable than in the other two species.展开更多
To study the paralytic shellfish toxins（PSTs） depuration in Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in natural environment, Japanese scallops naturally contaminated with paralytic shellfish poisoning（PSP） toxins ...To study the paralytic shellfish toxins（PSTs） depuration in Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in natural environment, Japanese scallops naturally contaminated with paralytic shellfish poisoning（PSP） toxins in the Dayao Bay in the northern Huanghai Sea are transited to Qipanmo waters in the Bohai Sea of no reported PSTs incidents. The levels and profile of PSTs during 30-day depuration are detected by the high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection（HPLC-FLD）. The results show that the toxicity of the PSTs in soft tissues decreases to a relatively low level at Day 9. Moreover, the depurated ratio at the early stage of the PSTs depuration is higher than that at the later stage. The toxicity analysis of dissected organs reveals that the digestive gland is the most contaminated PSTs part, which is of important implication for the human health and scallop aquiculture. The mortality of Japanese scallops during PSTs depuration experiment is relevant to PSTs level in the soft tissue.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China,No.2019YFA0110300(to ZG)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81773302(to YF),32070862(to ZG).
文摘Human brain development is a complex process,and animal models often have significant limitations.To address this,researchers have developed pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional structures,known as brain-like organoids,to more accurately model early human brain development and disease.To enable more consistent and intuitive reproduction of early brain development,in this study,we incorporated forebrain organoid culture technology into the traditional unguided method of brain organoid culture.This involved embedding organoids in matrigel for only 7 days during the rapid expansion phase of the neural epithelium and then removing them from the matrigel for further cultivation,resulting in a new type of human brain organoid system.This cerebral organoid system replicated the temporospatial characteristics of early human brain development,including neuroepithelium derivation,neural progenitor cell production and maintenance,neuron differentiation and migration,and cortical layer patterning and formation,providing more consistent and reproducible organoids for developmental modeling and toxicology testing.As a proof of concept,we applied the heavy metal cadmium to this newly improved organoid system to test whether it could be used to evaluate the neurotoxicity of environmental toxins.Brain organoids exposed to cadmium for 7 or 14 days manifested severe damage and abnormalities in their neurodevelopmental patterns,including bursts of cortical cell death and premature differentiation.Cadmium exposure caused progressive depletion of neural progenitor cells and loss of organoid integrity,accompanied by compensatory cell proliferation at ectopic locations.The convenience,flexibility,and controllability of this newly developed organoid platform make it a powerful and affordable alternative to animal models for use in neurodevelopmental,neurological,and neurotoxicological studies.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province(Nos.ZR2019MH048 and ZR2022QC149)the Double First-class Disciplines Construction Fund Project from Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai(No.2023SYLHY18)Weihai Science and Technology Development Program。
文摘Alga toxins have recently emerged as an environmental risk factor,especially to neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.However,the association between the alga toxinsβ-N-methylamino-L-alanine(BMAA),brevetoxin B,cyanoginosin LR,okadaic acid and neurodegenerative diseases remains inadequately investigated.Therefore,the aim of this study was to elucidate the potential associations.Four sets of differentially expressed genes related with BMAA,brevetoxin B,cyanoginosin LR and okadaic acid in Homo sapiens and genes linked to neurodegenerative disease development were respectively collected from the Comparative Toxicogenomic Database.Metascape analysis and cluster community analysis of four alga toxins highlighted protein-protein interaction enrichment and hub genes,while biological processes analysis showed that the dominant pathways involved in harmful effects triggered by four alga toxins were the apoptotic signaling pathway,regulation of amyloid protein formation,inflammatory response and endoplasmic reticulum stress.Genes related to the interactions between four alga toxins and neurodegenerative diseases were selected and analyzed,revealing that the relevant pathways and genes were those involved in apoptotic mitochondrial changes and neuroinflammatory response pathways.The adverse outcome pathway frameworks were constructed according to the analysis results for toxins and associated neurodegenerative diseases.These discoveries provide a new perspective for us to gain a deeper understanding of the neurotoxic effects of four alga toxins.
文摘The integration of phytochemistry into forensic science has emerged as a groundbreaking frontier,providing unprecedented insights into nature's secrets through the precise application of phytochemical fingerprinting of phytotoxins as a cutting-edge approach.This study explores the dynamic intersection of phytochemistry and forensic science,highlighting how the unique phytochemical profiles of toxic plants and their secondary metabolites,serve as distinctive markers for forensic investigations.By utilizing advanced techniques such as Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography(UHPLC)and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry(HRMS),the detection and quantification of plant-derived are made more accurate in forensic contexts.Real-world case studies are presented to demonstrate the critical role of plant toxins in forensic outcomes and legal proceedings.The challenges,potential,and future prospects of integrating phytochemical fingerprinting of plant toxins into forensic science were discussed.This review aims to illuminate phytochemical fingerprinting of plant toxins as a promising tool to enhance the precision and depth of forensic analyses,offering new insights into the complex stories embedded in plant toxins.
基金supported by The Africa Education Initiative(NEF),USA and the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom,Nigeria.
文摘Background:The One Health concept considers the interconnectivity,interactions and interdependence of humans,animals and the environment.Humans,animals and other organisms are constantly exposed to a wide range of natural toxins present in the environment.Thus,there is growing concern about the potential detrimental effects that natural toxins could pose to achieve One Health.Interestingly,alkaloids,steroids and bioactive peptides obtained from natural toxins could be used for the development of therapeutic agents.Methodology:Our literature search focused on the following keywords;toxins,One Health,microbial toxins,mycotoxins,phytotoxins,phycotoxins,insect toxins and toxin effects.Google Scholar,Science Direct,PubMed and Web of Science were the search engines used to obtain primary databases.We chose relevant full-text articles and review papers published in English language only.The research was done between July 2022 and January 2023.Results:Natural toxins are poisonous substances comprising bioactive compounds produced by microorganisms,invertebrates,plants and animals.These compounds possess diverse structures and differ in biological function and toxicity,posing risks to human and animal health through the contamination of the environment,causing disease or death in certain cases.Findings from the articles reviewed revealed that effects of natural toxins on animals and humans gained more attention than the impact of natural toxins on the environment and lower organisms,irrespective of the significant roles that lower organisms play to maintain ecosystem balance.Also,systematic approaches for toxin control in the environment and utilization for beneficial purposes are inadequate in many regions.Remarkably,bioactive compounds present in natural toxins have potential for the development of therapeutic agents.These findings suggest that global,comprehensive and coordinated efforts are required for improved management of natural toxins through an interdisciplinary,One Health approach.Conclusion:Adopting a One Health approach is critical to addressing the effects of natural toxins on the health of humans,animals and the environment.
文摘This paper summarized professor LI Xiuhui's experience in treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) complicated with opportunistic infections(OIs) using the methodology of “turbid toxins entering the blood and expelling pathogens outwardly”. OIs are significant cause of morbidity and mortality among AIDS patients. Professor LI Xiuhui believes that the pathogenesis of OIs lies in turbid toxins entering the blood, infecting the Sanjiao, damaging the nutrient Qi and defensive Qi, consuming Qi and essence, and impairing the primordial Qi. As a result, the five organs are weakened, pathogenic toxins overflow, leading to the occurrence of some related opportunistic infectious diseases in various systems throughout the body. Therefore, in treatment, the “penetrating and supporting method” and the “tonifying and supporting method” are used to consolidate and support the healthy Qi, allowing the pathogenic toxins to be expelled smoothly,so that the opportunistic infectious diseases can be cured or controlled.
基金The work was supported by National Basic Research Project No. 2001 CB409700, NNSFC KZCX2-YW-208.
文摘Objective To study the transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins （PST） using four simulated marine food chains： dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense→Artemia Artemia salina→Mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis; A. tamarense→N. awatschensis; A. tamarense→A, salina→Perch Lateolabrax japonicus; and A. tamarense→L, japonicus. Methods The ingestion of A. tamarense, a producer of PST, by L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina was first confirmed by microscopic observation of A. tamarense cells in the intestine samples of the three different organisms, and by the analysis of Chl.a levels in the samples. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly through the vector of A. salina was then studied, The toxicity of samples was measured using the AOAC mouse bioassay method, and the toxin content and profile of A. tamarense were analyzed by the HPLC method. Results Both A. salina and N. awatschensis could ingest A. tamarense cells. However, the ingestion capability of A. salina exceeded that of N. awatschensis. After the exposure to the culture of A. tamarense （2 000 cells·mL^-1） for 70 minutes, the content of Chl.a in A. salina and N. awatschensis reached 0.87 and 0.024 μg.mg^-1, respectively. Besides, A. tamarense cells existed in the intestines of L. japonicus, N. awatschensis and A. salina by microscopic observation. Therefore, the three organisms could ingest A. tamarense cells directly. A. salina could accumulate high content of PST, and the toxicity of A. salina in samples collected on days 1, 4, and 5 of the experiment was 2.18, 2.6, and 2.1 MU.g^-1, respectively. All extracts from the samples could lead to death of tested mice within 7 minutes, and the toxin content in anemia sample collected on the 1st day was estimated to be 1.65×10 ^5 μg STX equal/individual. Toxin accumulation in L japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly from the vector ofA. salina was also studied. The mice injected with extracts from L japonicus and N. awatschensis samples that accumulated PST either directly or indirectly showed PST intoxication symptoms, indicating that low levels of PST existed in these samples. Conclusion Paralytic shellfish toxins can be transferred to L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina from A. tamarense directly or indirectly via the food chains.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21778001)
文摘Recently, medicinal peptide molecules are of great interest to many international pharmaceutical companies, mainly because of their relatively lower research costs, shorter research cycles, and the greater likelihood of being drugs, when compared with traditional small molecules. Due to the great variety in molecule structures and the diverse biological functions, disulfide-rich peptide toxins have become a shining molecular library for the development of polypeptide drugs. In view of the increasing amount of related publications, here we summarize the discovery, structural elucidation and chemical synthesis of disulfide-rich peptide toxins and their analogs.
基金Supported by the Basic Scientific Research Project of Nonprofit Central Research Institutions(1610322013028)
文摘The genc CPA and ETX encoding α and e toxins were amplified from the standard strain C60-2 of type D Clostridium perfingens by PCR, and then they were inserted into pet-Duct-1 vecto, respectively for the construction of co-expression plasmid pETDoet-1-CPA-ETX. The co-expression plasmid was transformed into BL21 （DE3） competent cells, at and e toxins proteins were induced by IPTG before analysis by SDS-PAGE. As a result, both of α and e toxins were detected at 43 and 34 KU by western-blot. Mice immunized with the co-expressed α and e toxins proteins produced high titers of neutralizing antibodies in the serum, which protected the mice against the attack of type D C. perfringens culture filtrate. In addition, mice immunized with the produced co-expressed α and e toxins proteins showed significantly higher surviving rate than with ε toxins protein alone when infected with culture filtrate of type D C. perfringens . These results indicated that co-expression of α and e toxins proteins could be used as a new method to prepare vaccines against the pathogens of multiple serotypes.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31270835)NSFCYunnan joint funding(U1132601)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-EW-L03)
文摘Venom （toxins） is an important trait evolved along the evolutionary tree of animals. Our knowledges on venoms, such as their origins and loss, the biological relevance and the coevolutionary patterns with other organisms are greatly helpful in understanding many fundamental biological questions, i.e., the environmental adaptation and survival competition, the evolution shaped development and balance of venoms, and the sophisticated correlations among venom, immunity, body power, intelligence, their genetic basis, inherent association, as well as the cost-benefit and trade-offs of biological economy. Lethal animal envenomation can be found worldwide However, from foe to friend, toxin studies have led lots of important discoveries and exciting avenues in deciphering and fighting human diseases, including the works awarded the Nobel Prize and lots of key clinic therapeutics. According to our survey, so far, only less than 0.1% of the toxins of the venomous animals in China have been explored. We emphasize on the similarities shared by venom and immune systems, as well as the studies of toxin knowledge-based physiological toxin-like proteins/peptides （TLPs）. We propose the natural pairing hypothesis. Evolution links toxins with humans. Our mission is to find out the right natural pairings and interactions of our body elements with toxins, and with endogenous toxin-like molecules. Although, in nature, toxins may endanger human lives, but from a philosophical point of view, knowing them well is an effective way to better understand ourselves. So, this is why we study toxins.
基金This study was supported by National Basic Research Project No. 2001CB4097 NSFC Projects No.20177023+2 种基金 40076030 CAS Innovation Project No. KZCX2-206 Project of Shandong Province Science Committee No.012110115.
文摘The frequency and scale of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and marine algal toxin incidents have been increasing and spreading in the past two decades, causing damages to the marine environment and threatening human life through contaminated seafood. To better understand the effect of HAB and marine algal toxins on marine environment and human health in China, this paper overviews HAB occurrence and marine algal toxin incidents, as well as their environmental and health effects in this country. HAB has been increasing rapidly along the Chinese coast since the 1970s, and at least 512 documented HAB events have occurred from 1952 to 2002 in the Chinese mainland. It has been found that PSP and DSP toxins are distributed widely along both the northern and southern Chinese coasts. The HAB and marine algal toxin events during the 1990s in China were summarized, showing that the HAB and algal toxins resulted in great damages to local fisheries, marine culture, quality of marine environment, and human health. Therefore, to protect the coastal environment and human health, attention to HAB and marine algal toxins is urgently needed from the environmental and epidemiologicalview.
文摘Microcystins (MCYSTs) isolated from blue-green algae,are hepatotoxic polypeptides.It will induce severe intrahepatic hemorrhage and liver necrosis at low concentrations in rats and mice.MCYST- LR is one of MCYSTs which consists of 2 variable L- amino acids(leucine and arginine),3 D-amino acids and 2 unusualamino acids(including Adda).MCYSTs bind to protein phosphatase 1 and 2A,and strongly inhibit their activities.The resultant increase of phosphoprotein was referred to be involved in tumor-promoting activity in liver.According to the above results and animal study,MCYST-LR is a potent liver tumor promoter.There were 9 positive from 30 samples of pond-ditch water in high endemic county-Haimen by high-peformance liquid chromatograph and 3 already confirmed by liquid chromograph/mass spectrometer.The quantities of MCYSTs were different between drinking water of liver cancer cases and controls groups.122±0.057and 0.072±0.044μg/200ml respectively) by ELISA. It is not easy to remove by conventional water treatment procedures.The relationship between MCYSTs and oncogenes and anti-oncogenes are under studying.
基金supported by grants from the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation(81860696,31560596,81373945,and 31360516)Yunnan Applied Basic Research Projects(2016FD076)+2 种基金Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-EW-L03)"Yunling Scholar"Program,Yunnan Provincial Training Programs of Youth Leader in Academic and Technical Reserve Talent(2019HB058)Puer University(2017XJKT12&CXTD011)。
文摘As the oldest venomous animals,centipedes use their venom as a weapon to attack prey and for protection.Centipede venom,which contains many bioactive and pharmacologically active compounds,has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine,as shown by ancient records.Based on comparative analysis,we revealed the diversity of and differences in centipede toxin-like molecules between Scolopendra mojiangica,a substitute pharmaceutical material used in China,and S.subspinipes mutilans.More than 6000 peptides isolated from the venom were identified by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry(ESI-MS/MS)and inferred from the transcriptome.As a result,in the proteome of S.mojiangica,246 unique proteins were identified:one in five were toxin-like proteins or putative toxins with unknown function,accounting for a lower percentage of total proteins than that in S.mutilans.Transcriptome mining identified approximately 10 times more toxin-like proteins,which can characterize the precursor structures of mature toxinlike peptides.However,the constitution and quantity of the toxin transcripts in these two centipedes were similar.In toxicity assays,the crude venom showed strong insecticidal and hemolytic activity.These findings highlight the extensive diversity of toxin-like proteins in S.mojiangica and provide a new foundation for the medical-pharmaceutical use of centipede toxin-like proteins.
基金Supported by the National Marine Public Welfare Research Project of China(No.201305010)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41106090)+5 种基金the Open Foundation of Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.LMB111003)the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central Universities(No.21612401)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.S2011040003113)the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2013CB956503)the Special Project for Science and Technology of Environmental Protection of Zhejiang Province(No.2011A31)the Wenzhou Science and Technology Plan Program(No.S2006A007)
文摘A 12-month program of monitoring potentially toxic microalgae(that produce lipophilic shellfi sh toxins; LSTs) and their toxins in bivalves was conducted from April 2006 to March 2007 in the Nanji Islands, East China Sea. Two Dinophysis species, D. caudata and D. acuminata, were identifi ed, and D. caudat a was found to be the dominant species. D. caudata was detected in water samples between April and June 2006, and between February and March 2007. It reached its highest abundances in May, with a mean abundance of 1.38×10 2 cells/L in surface water and 1.25×10 2 cells/L in bottom water(<10 m deep). The temporal distribution of D. caudata was associated with the occurrence of LSTs in bivalve samples, which mostly occurred at the same time as D. caudata blooms, between April and July 2006. All of the cultured bivalves sampled between April and June were contaminated with LSTs, with an average toxicity of 85 μg okadaic acid(OA) eq./100 g meat, which was four times higher than the Chinese regulatory limit(20 μg OA eq./100 g meat). Ten out of fi fteen wild samples(66.7%) collected during the same period were positive for LSTs, and contained an average LST toxicity of 45 μg OA eq./100 g meat(more than twice the regulatory value). Cultured Patinopecten yessoensis collected on 15 May 2006 had the highest toxicity, 320 μg OA eq./100 g meat, and relatively high toxicities(80 to 160 μg OA eq./100 g meat) were found in bivalves until the end of July.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Project(No.2019YFC1605704)the Taishan Industry Leading Talent Project(No.LJNY201816)supported by Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City(No.SKJCKJ-2019KY01).
文摘Bivalve farming plays a dominant role in mariculture in China.Paralytic shellfish toxins(PSTs)can be accumulated in bivalves and cause poisoning the consumers.A sensitive detection of PSTs can provide early warning to decrease poisoning events in bivalve consuming.PSTs are traditionally examined using the whole soft-tissues.However,PSTs accumulation varies dramatically in different tissues of bivalves.Some tough tissues/organs(such as mantle),which account for a large proportion of the total soft body,exhibit a lower accumulation of PSTs and make the toxin extraction time-and reagent-consuming,potentially decreasing the accuracy and sensitivity of PSTs monitoring in bivalves.To develop a sensitive and cost-effective approach for PSTs examination in massively farmed bivalves,we fed three commercially important bivalves,Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis,Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas,and blue mussel Mytilus edulis with PSTs-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella,and detected PSTs concentration in different tissues.For all three bivalve species,the digestive gland accumulated much more PSTs than other tissues,and the digestive gland’s toxicity was significantly correlated with the PSTs toxicity of the whole soft-tissues,with r^(2)=0.94,0.92,and 0.94 for Yesso scallop,Pacific oyster,and blue mussel,respectively.When the toxicity of the whole soft-tissues reached 80μgSTXeq(100g)^(−1),the regulatory limit for commercial shellfish,the digestive gland’s toxicity reached 571.48,498.90,and 859.20μgSTXeq(100g)^(−1) in Yesso scallop,Pacific oyster,and blue mussel,respectively.Our results indicate that digestive gland can be used for the sensitive and cost-effective monitoring of PSTs in bivalves.
文摘Although the exact mechanism（s）of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease（PD）is not well understood,mitochondrial dysfunction is proposed to play a central role.This proposal is strongly strengthened by the findings that compromised mitochondrial functions and/or exposure to mitochondrial toxins such as rotenone,paraquat,or MPTP causes degeneration of the midbrain dopaminergic.
文摘Venom toxins are widely spread in nature, adopting diverse structures and functions. They often function by blocking or modulating important membrane protein targets thus can be promising therapeutic candidates and biophysical probes. In this review, we briefly discuss the total chemical synthesis of venom toxins including the different refolding strategies reported during the past decade as well as innovative approaches for structure determination.
基金the financial support from Project 81771983, 81750110544, 81750410695, 81650110523, and 81471096 (to LXQ) by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)Project 16441909300 by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission+2 种基金Project 2017YFC0909000 by Ministry of Science and Technology of Chinasponsored by the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning (TP2015015)supported by 14DZ2272400 Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (to WC)
文摘Nutriology relies on advanced analytical tools to study the molecular compositions of food and provide key information on sample quality/safety. Small nutrients detection is challenging due to the high diversity and broad dynamic range of molecules in food samples, and a further issue is to track low abundance toxins. Herein, we developed a novel plasmonic matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI MS)approach to detect small nutrients and toxins in complex biological emulsion samples. Silver nanoshells(SiO_2@-Ag) with optimized structures were used as matrices andachieved direct analysis of ~ 6 n L of human breast milk without any enrichment or separation. We performed identification and quantitation of small nutrients and toxins with limit-of-detection down to 0.4 pmol(for melamine) and reaction time shortened to minutes, which is superior to the conventional biochemical method currently in use. The developed approach contributes to the near-future application of MALDI MS in a broad field and personalized design of plasmonic materials for real-case bio-analysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31570773)State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents(Chinese IPM1707)
文摘Three-finger toxins （TFTs） are well-recognized non- enzymatic venom proteins found in snakes. However, although TFTs exhibit accelerated evolution, the drivers of this evolution remain poorly understood. The structural complexes between long-chain α-neurotoxins, a subfamily of TFTs, and their nicotinic acetylcholine receptor targets have been determined in previous research, providing an opportunity to address such questions. In the current study, we observed several previously identified positively selected sites （PSSs） and the highly variable C-terminal loop of these toxins at the toxin/receptor interface. Of interest, analysis of the molecular adaptation of the toxin-recognition regions in the corresponding receptors provided no statistical evidence for positive selection. However, these regions accumulated abundant amino acid variations in the receptors from the prey of snakes, suggesting that accelerated substitution of TFTs could be a consequence of adaptation to these variations. To the best of our knowledge, this atypical evolution, initially discovered in scorpions, is reported in snake toxins for the first time and may be applicable for the evolution of toxins from other venomous animals.
基金The International cooperation programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China under contract No.2007DFA30710the Society commonweal programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China under contract No.2005DIB2J116
文摘Dissected tissues of three shellfish species, the Chinese scallop, Chlamys farreri, Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarurn, and Razor shell, Solen strictu were evaluated for in vitro transformation of paralytic shellfish poisoning （PSP） toxins. Tissue homogenates were incubated with extraction from toxic algae Alexandriurn rninutura to determine toxin conversion. The effects of heating and addition of a natural reductant （glutathione） on toxin conversion were also assessed. The toxin profile was investigated through high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection （HPLC-FLD）. The evident variations in the toxin content were observed only in Chinese scallop viscera homogenates. The concentration of GTX4 was reduced by 45% （approximately 0.8 μmol/dm^3） and 25% （approximately 1 μmol/dm^3） for GTX1, while GTX2 and GTX3 increased by six times （approximately 1 μmol/dm^3） and 3 times （approximately 0.3μmol/dm^3） respectively. Simultaneously, the total toxicity decreased by 38% during the 48 h incubation period, the final toxicity was 20.4 nmol STXeq/g. Furthermore, heated Chinese scallop viscera homogenates samples were compared with non-heated samples. The concentration of the GTX4 and GTX1 was clearly 28% （approximately 0.53 μmol/dm^3） and 17% （approximately 0.69μmol/dm^3） higher in heated samples, GTX2 and GTX3 were four times （0.66 μmol/dm^3） and two times （0.187 μmol/dm^3） lower respectively. GSH （＋） Chinese scallop viscera homogenates samples were compared with GSH （-） samples, the concentration in the GTX4 and GTX1 was 9% （approximately 0.12 μmol/dm^3） and 11% （approximately 0.36 μmol/dm^3） lower respectively, GTX2 and GTX3 was 17% （approximately 0.14 μmol/dm^3） and 19% （approximately 0.006 μmol/dm^3） higher respectively. In contrast,there was a little change in the concentration of PSP toxins of Manila clam and Razor shell tissue ho- mogenates. These observations on three shellfish tissues confirmed that there were species-specific differences in PSP toxins transformation. PSP toxins transformation was more pronounced in viscera tissue than in muscle tissue. PSP toxins was possibly interfered by some carbamoylase enzyme, and the activity in Chinese scallop viscera tissue is more remarkable than in the other two species.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.30470275the National Special Grant of China under contract Nos 908-01-ZH3 and 908-ZC-I-15the National Basic Research Grant of China under contract No.2010CB428706
文摘To study the paralytic shellfish toxins（PSTs） depuration in Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in natural environment, Japanese scallops naturally contaminated with paralytic shellfish poisoning（PSP） toxins in the Dayao Bay in the northern Huanghai Sea are transited to Qipanmo waters in the Bohai Sea of no reported PSTs incidents. The levels and profile of PSTs during 30-day depuration are detected by the high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection（HPLC-FLD）. The results show that the toxicity of the PSTs in soft tissues decreases to a relatively low level at Day 9. Moreover, the depurated ratio at the early stage of the PSTs depuration is higher than that at the later stage. The toxicity analysis of dissected organs reveals that the digestive gland is the most contaminated PSTs part, which is of important implication for the human health and scallop aquiculture. The mortality of Japanese scallops during PSTs depuration experiment is relevant to PSTs level in the soft tissue.
