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Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2019 Feb 6:1-19. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

b Laboratory of Marine Toxins, Physiology and Biophysics Programme, Faculty of Medicine , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.

Okadaic acid group (OA-group) is a set of lipophilic toxins which are characterised by being produced by species associated with the genera Dinophysis and Prorocentrum. OA-group has been regularly detected in endemic shellfish species from the southern zone of Chile only through the mouse bioassay. The purpose of this work was to determine the variability of OA-group toxins in endemic aquatic organisms (bivalves, crabs, gastropods and fish) and to establish the relationship with the concentration of fatty acids (FAs) detected in the evaluated species. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2019 Jan 22;11(2). Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Marine Environment and Food Safety, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, H91 R673 Galway, Ireland.

The purpose of this work is to review all the historical monitoring data gathered by the Marine Institute, the national reference laboratory for marine biotoxins in Ireland, including all the biological and chemical data from 2005 to 2017, in relation to diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxicity in shellfish production. The data reviewed comprises over 25,595 water samples, which were preserved in Lugol's iodine and analysed for the abundance and composition of marine microalgae by light microscopy, and 18,166 records of shellfish flesh samples, which were analysed using LC-MS/MS for the presence and concentration of the compounds okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxins-1 (DTX-1), dinophysistoxins-2 (DTX-2) and their hydrolysed esters, as well as pectenotoxins (PTXs). The results of this review suggest that DSP toxicity events around the coast of Ireland occur annually. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2019 Jan 21;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA.

The physiological and toxicological characteristics of have been increasingly studied in an attempt to better understand and predict diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) events worldwide. Recent work has identified prey quantity, organic nitrogen, and ammonium as likely contributors to increased growth rates and/or toxicity. Further research is now needed to better understand the interplay between these factors, for example, how inorganic and organic compounds interact with prey and a variety of species and/or strains. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2019 Jan 15;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.

Butterfield Lake is a mesotrophic lake in New York State where residents and pets have experienced unexplained health issues. (basionym ) was found at two of 15 sites in Butterfield Lake and analyzed for microcystins, anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, and paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSTs). Only PSTs and trace levels of anatoxin-a were detected in these samples. Read More

Toxicon 2019 Jan 11;160:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. Electronic address:

Okadaic acid (OA), a potent polyether marine toxin, accumulates in the digestive glands of marine mollusks and therefore can severely threaten the health of humans after ingestion of contaminated shellfish. In vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that exposure of various cells, including human embryonic amniotic cells, hepatocytes, neuroblastoma cells, to OA induces morphological and functional modifications as well as the death of cells. As the number of reports on OA poisoning has increased, this toxin has gradually attracted the public's attention, and researchers are trying to study it. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.

Dissolved sulfide, iron (Fe), and phosphorus (P) in a mudflat (Jiaozhou Bay, China) impacted by shellfish aquaculture were measured in situ by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. A combination of porewater and solid-phase chemistry was used to characterize the interplays of Fe and S, and their control on P mobilization. Below the subsurface layer, two times higher fluxes (F) of dissolved Fe from porewater to the DGT device than those of dissolved sulfide indicate that dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) dominates over sulfate reduction (SR). Read More

Biosens Bioelectron 2019 Mar 26;128:45-51. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology of MOE, Fujian Provincial Key Lab of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China. Electronic address:

Saxitoxin (STX) has high toxicity, and is water soluble, acid stable and thermostable. Therefore, STX in seawater can be accumulated by marine organism to form bioaccumulation. To ensure the safety of seafood for consumption, it is crucial to accurately determine trace STX in seawater and seafood. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 18;9:3153. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Paralytic shellfish toxin producing dinoflagellates have negatively impacted the shellfish aquaculture industry worldwide, including in Australia and New Zealand. Morphologically identical cryptic species of dinoflagellates that may differ in toxicity, in particular, species of the former species complex, co-occur in Australia, as they do in multiple regions in Asia and Europe. To understand the dynamics and the ecological drivers of the growth of each species in the field, accurate quantification at the species level is crucial. Read More

Neurotoxicol Teratol 2019 Jan 5;72:10-21. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Domoic Acid (DA) is a naturally-occurring excitotoxin, produced by marine algae, which can bioaccumulate in shellfish and finfish. The consumption of seafood contaminated with DA is associated with gastrointestinal illness that, in the case of high DA exposure, can evolve into a spectrum of responses ranging from agitation to hallucinations, memory loss, seizures and coma. Because algal blooms that produce DA are becoming more widespread and very little is known about the dangers of chronic, low-dose exposure, we initiated a preclinical study focused on the reproductive and developmental effects of DA in a nonhuman primate model. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Feb 3;26(5):5189-5201. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

This study was conducted to assess the proximate analysis (protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and moisture content) and concentration levels of metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Cr) in the muscles of selected shellfish (Portunus reticulatus, P. segnis, P. sanguinolentus, Scylla olivaceae, Penaeus monodon, and P. Read More

Vopr Pitan 2018 11;87(3):18-29. Epub 2018 May 11.

Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow.

Yessotoxin and its derivatives (about 90) are isolated from algae belonging to the species Protoceratium reticulatum, Gonyaulax cf. Spinifera, Lingulodinium polyedrum and from invertebrate organisms that feed on these algae. Previously yessotoxin have been associated with the group of diarrheal toxins. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 24;87:43-50. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China. Electronic address:

Because of the high protein content and rich meat quality of crayfish Procambarus clarkii, it has become widely popular in China in recent years and has a high economic value. When P. clarkii is stimulated by heavy metals, it reacts to oxidation. Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Dec 23;80:158-170. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Queensland Department of Environment and Science, GPO Box 5078 Brisbane Qld 4001, Australia.

Strains of the freshwater filamentous, benthic cyanobacterium Scytonema crispum Agardh isolated from six sites in subtropical south-east Queensland were characterised using a combination of phenotypic and genetic traits. Morphologically, the strains were consistent with the description of Scytonemataceae sensu stricto, and the description of Scytonema crispum. However, phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, the 16S-23S rRNA operon, and the nifH gene revealed that these strains and three others from outside Australia formed a monophyletic clade distinct from Scytonema and other species in the Scytonemataceae. Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Dec 20;80:140-148. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, CoNISMa, ULR Ancona, Ancona, Italy.

The benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum hoffmannianum M.A. Faust is typical of tropical warm waters and produces biotoxins responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Dec 7;80:1-14. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

In contrast to temperate Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), knowledge on the mechanisms driving tropical HABs are less well studied. The interaction of a seasonal temperature window, cysts (for certain species) and large-scale transport are some of the key processes in temperate HABs. In the Philippines, HABs occur not along long open coastlines, but in embayments that are highly influenced by run-off and stratification. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Mar 28;86:420-428. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Chemistry of Natural Products Laboratory, Biotechnology and Biochemistry Department, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato, Gto., Mexico.

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. has been used for centuries as traditional medicine in many clinical situations. The objectives of this study were first to assess the nutraceutical potential of C. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Mar 2;86:549-558. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi, China; Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory of Zebrafish Modeling and Drug Screening for Human Diseases, Ji'an, Jiangxi, China; Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Organs, Ji'an, Jiangxi, China. Electronic address:

Clethodim is one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture, but its potential negative effects on aquatic organisms are still poorly understood. This study examined the effects of clethodim on zebrafish at aspects of early stage embryonic development, immune toxicity, cell apoptosis and locomotor behavior. Firstly, clethodim exposure markedly decreased the survival rate, body length, and heart rate and resulted in a series of morphological abnormalities, primarily spinal deformities (SD) and yolk sac edema, in zebrafish larvae. Read More

J Environ Sci (China) 2019 Jan 23;75:145-162. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia. Electronic address:

Microbial transformations of toxic monomethylmercury (MMHg) and dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) at the lower levels of the marine food web are not well understood, especially in oligotrophic and phosphorus-limited seas. To examine the effects of probable phosphorus limitation (P-limitation) on relations between mercury (Hg) fractions and microorganisms, we determined the total mercury (THg), total methylated mercury (MeHg), DGM, and microbiological and chemical parameters in the Central Adriatic Sea. Using statistical analysis, we assessed the potential microbial effects on Hg transformations and bioaccumulation. Read More

Toxicon 2019 Feb 22;158:1-7. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Private Bag 2, Nelson, 7010, New Zealand. Electronic address:

To date Paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) variants in cyanobacteria have primarily been characterized using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. In this study we re-evaluated the PST profiles of five cyanobacterial cultures (Dolichospermum circinale AWQC131C, Aphanizomenon sp. NH-5, Raphidiopsis raciborskii T3, Scytonema cf. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 6;651(Pt 2):3222-3229. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Box 19031, 81530-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address:

Paralytic shellfish Toxins (PSTs) or saxitoxins are neurotoxins that block the neural transmission by binding to the voltage-gated sodium channels in the nerve cells. There are >50 analogues described, which could be biotransformed into a molecular form of greater or lesser toxicity. The Alagados Reservoir is used for water supply, and persistent cyanobacterial blooms as well as PSTs concentrations have been found in this water body since 2002. Read More

Water Sci Technol 2018 Nov;78(7):1576-1586

Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, 1235 Prof. Moraes Rego Avenue, Cidade Universitária, Recife, 50670-901, PE, Brazil E-mail:

Malacoculture waste (Anomalocardia brasiliana) shellfish shells (ABSS) were evaluated as adsorbents of Nylosan Brilliant Blue (NBB) acid dye. The ABSS were thermally activated at 1,000 °C for 10 h and then characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, analysis of specific surface area (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy. Point of zero charge (PZC) analysis of ABSS verified pH 13. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 25;84:656-663. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China. Electronic address:

Previous research has indicated that the small compound, SP600125, could induce polyploidy of fish cells, and has established a stable tetraploid cell line from diploid fish cells. In order to explore how fish cells maintain homeostasis under SP600125-stress in vitro, this study investigates impacts of SP600125-stress on intracellular pathways, as well as on regulation of the cellular homeostasis feedback in fish cells. Transcriptomes are obtained from the SP600125-treated cells. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 24;84:756-767. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S, 23090, Mexico. Electronic address:

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) stimulate immune responses in mammals but they have not been tested in species of relevance in aquaculture. In this study the immunostimulant and protective potential of orally administered AuNP against V. parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease, was determined in shrimp. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 23;84:648-655. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China; Co-Innovation Center for Marine Bio-Industry Technology of Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, Jiangsu 222005, China. Electronic address:

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) are a new pollutant in aquaculture, representing a hazard to aquatic organisms. We investigated the effects of Cu NPs exposure on oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune response in an economically important model species, Takifugu fasciatus. The juvenile fish were exposed to control, 20 or 100 μg Cu NPs/L for 30 days. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2018 Oct 23;10(11). Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin associated with human poisonings through the consumption of pufferfish. More recently, TTX has been identified in bivalve molluscs from diverse geographical environments, including Europe, and is therefore recognised as an emerging threat to food safety. A recent scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain recognised the need for further data on the acute oral toxicity of TTX and suggested that, since saxitoxin (STX) and TTX had similar modes of action, it was possible that their toxicities were additive so could perhaps be combined to yield one health-based guideline value. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 23;84:1030-1040. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea; Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province, 63243, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Proteins with dithiol-disulfide oxidoreductase catalytic domain are well known for their capacity in the cellular redox homeostasis. In this study, we characterized the zebrafish thioredoxin domain containing 12 (Zftxndc12) gene, analyzed the transcriptional responses and studied the functional properties of its recombinant protein. Full-length cDNA of Zftxndc12 consists 519 bp coding region encoding 172 amino acids (AA) including the signal peptide. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 19;84:627-638. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453007, China. Electronic address:

The present study aimed to determine the chronic toxicity of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide ([Cmim]Br) on the silver carp to further reveal the toxicological mechanisms of ionic liquids. Chronic exposure of silver carp to [Cmim]Br at concentrations of 1.095 and 4. Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2018 Oct 6;135:69-74. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, found frequently in oysters and other seafoods, is the most prevalent gastroenteritis-causing pathogen in Korea and other Asian countries. It is associated exclusively with the consumption of raw or improperly cooked contaminated seafood, especially oysters. In this study, we isolated and characterized 59 V. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2018 Sep 28;10(10). Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK.

Diarrhetic shellfish toxins produced by the dinoflagellate genus are a major problem for the shellfish industry worldwide. Separate species of the genus have been associated with the production of different analogues of the okadaic acid group of toxins. To evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of species and toxins in the important shellfish-harvesting region of the Scottish west coast, we analysed data collected from 1996 to 2017 in two contrasting locations: Loch Ewe and the Clyde Sea. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 21;9:1173. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Muping Coastal Environmental Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, China.

Harmful algae blooms have expanded greatly in recent decades, and their secreted toxins pose a severe threat to human health and marine ecosystems. Saxitoxin (STX) is a main paralytic shellfish poison naturally produced by marine microalgae of the genus . Despite numerous studies have assessed the impacts of STX on marine bivalves, comparative study on the toxicity of STX on bivalves with distinct accumulation ability (such as oysters and scallops) has been seldom investigated. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 15;83:373-385. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address:

Interleukins are critical cytokines that are ubiquitously present in both vertebrates and invertebrates and constitute the front line of host innate immunity. Here, we identified and analyzed IL-12p40 from the Chinese sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus (LmIL-12p40). The LmIL-12p40 gene is expressed as a 1386-base pair transcript that encodes a polypeptide of 321 amino acids. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 12;83:321-329. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.

The effects of the breakdown products of herbicides on aquatic species are largely unknown. In a recent study, we evaluated the effects of glyphosate on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. This study was designed to evaluate for the first time the impact of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) - the main breakdown product of glyphosate - on cellular and biochemical parameters of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 11;83:205-212. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), 28789 Jingshidong Road, Licheng District, Jinan 250103, Shandong Province, PR China; Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology of Shandong Academy of Sciences, Key Laboaratory for Biosensor of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), 28789 Jingshidong Road, Licheng District, Jinan 250103, Shandong Province, PR China. Electronic address:

Marsdenia tenacissima exhibits biological activity with heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, relieving coughs and asthma and exerting anticancer and anti-HIV effects. Tenacissioside H (TH) is a Chinese medicine monomer extracted from the dried stem of Marsdenia tenacissima. We investigated the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of TH using three different zebrafish inflammation models: local inflammation induced by tail cutting, acute inflammation induced by CuSO and systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 8;83:162-170. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

South China Sea Resource Exploitation and Protection Collaborative Innovation Center (SCS-REPIC)/School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Ammonia is a major aquatic environmental pollutant that negatively impacts shrimp health and commercial productivity. However, we currently do not fully understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of ammonia stress in shrimp. We therefore performed transcriptomic analysis of hepatopancreas from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) treated with ammonia-stress. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Sep 6. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, Agartala, Tripura, 799210, India.

The present study was conducted to elucidate the possible effect of a combination of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract and dietary L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the immune responses and survivability in Labeo rohita fingerlings against low pH and waterborne iron toxicity. Four diets were prepared containing 0% (control), 0.01% (T1), 0. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 3;49(2):743-757. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Universitario, Lugo, Spain.

Background/aims: Okadaic acid (OA) and the structurally related compounds dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2) are marine phycotoxins that cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in humans due to ingestion of contaminated shellfish. In order to guarantee consumer protection, the regulatory authorities have defined the maximum level of DSP toxins as 160 µg OA equivalent kg-1 shellfish meat. For risk assessment and overall toxicity determination, knowledge of the relative toxicities of each analogue is required. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Nov 28;82:536-543. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, China. Electronic address:

TBT residual in water had become a noticeable ecological problem for aquatic ecosystems. The river pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus) is a kind of an anadromous fish species and widely distributed in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Because of the water contamination, the pufferfish wild resource had a sudden decline in recent years. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Nov 23;82:460-468. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar 751 002, India. Electronic address:

Ceruloplasmin is an ancient multicopper oxidase evolved to insure a safe handling of oxygen in some metabolic pathways of vertebrates. The current knowledge of its structure provides a glimpse of its plasticity, revealing a multitude of binding sites that point to an elaborate mechanism of multifunctional activity. Ceruloplasmin is highly conserved throughout the vertebrate evolution. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Nov 17;82:421-431. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China. Electronic address:

17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) exerts endocrine disrupting effect and immunotoxic effect on marine animals, including modulation of hepcidin expression. The antimicrobial peptide hepcidin displays a crucial role in innate immunity in fish against invading pathogens. It is known that the transcription of hepcidin in mammals is individually regulated by many stimuli, including inflammation, iron overload, anemia or hypoxia, through several distinct molecular pathways. Read More

Curr Environ Health Rep 2018 09;5(3):375-386

Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Purpose Of Review: We describe evidence regarding human exposure to microplastics via seafood and discuss potential health effects.

Recent Findings: Shellfish and other animals consumed whole pose particular concern for human exposure. If there is toxicity, it is likely dependent on dose, polymer type, size, surface chemistry, and hydrophobicity. Read More

ISME J 2019 Jan 14;13(1):64-75. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Centre for Ocean Life, DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Kgs.2800, Lyngby, Denmark.

Many species of phytoplankton produce toxins that may provide protection from grazing. In that case one would expect toxin production to be costly; else all species would evolve toxicity. However, experiments have consistently failed to show any costs. Read More

Food Chem 2018 Dec 2;269:166-172. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

Dpt. of Pharmacology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain. Electronic address:

Although paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) have traditionally been analyzed by liquid chromatography with either pre- or post-column derivatization, and these methods have been validated successfully through inter-laboratory studies, mass spectrometry methods have also been described in literature for use in monitoring programs. However, methods using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) need to be improved in terms of sensitivity, analyte recovery and retention time stability because of undesirable matrix effects. Furthermore, tetrodotoxin (TTX) has been found in northern European bivalves, so it is important to analyze TTX compounds alongside PSTs because characteristics of their toxicity are similar. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Nov 8;82:77-83. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhejiang, Zhoushan, 316004, China. Electronic address:

For the aim to study potential detrimental effects induced by Cu exposure at low, environmentally relevant concentrations, the in vivo activities at different levels of biological organisations of thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus exposed to two levels of copper were assessed. Cu-induced stresses were evaluated through antioxidant responses, DNA damage and genotoxicity. The results revealed significant higher SOD and CAT activities, and MDA concentration in haemocytes of M. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2018 Aug 9;10(8). Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.

Marine biotoxins are produced by aquatic microorganisms and accumulate in shellfish or finfish following the food web. These toxins usually reach human consumers by ingestion of contaminated seafood, although other exposure routes like inhalation or contact have also been reported and may cause serious illness. This review shows the current data regarding the symptoms of acute intoxication for several toxin classes, including paralytic toxins, amnesic toxins, ciguatoxins, brevetoxins, tetrodotoxins, diarrheic toxins, azaspiracids and palytoxins. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2018 Oct 4;120:603-615. Epub 2018 Aug 4.

Department of Biochemistry, Biological Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Electronic address:

Fish and shellfish, which represent important sources of nutrients (i.e., n-3 fatty acids), can contain significant amounts of methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxic compound. Read More

Toxics 2018 Aug 3;6(3). Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543, Japan.

The main chemical forms of mercury are elemental mercury, inorganic divalent mercury, and methylmercury, which are metabolized in different ways and have differing toxic effects in humans. Among the various chemical forms of mercury, methylmercury is known to be particularly neurotoxic, and was identified as the cause of Minamata disease. It bioaccumulates in fish and shellfish via aquatic food webs, and fish and sea mammals at high trophic levels exhibit high mercury concentrations. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Sep 30;202:196-206. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

School of Marine Sciences and Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA; Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA. Electronic address:

Blooms of Alexandrium spp., the causative agent of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), recur with varying frequency and intensity on the Northwest Atlantic coast of North America, from New York, USA, to northern Canadian waters. Along this latitudinal range blooms co-occur with abundant, intertidal populations of softshell clams, Mya arenaria. Read More

Environ Pollut 2018 Nov 27;242(Pt B):1598-1605. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR), UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD IFREMER -Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280, Plouzané, France.

Harmful microalgal blooms are a threat to aquatic organisms, ecosystems and human health. Toxic dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium are known to produce paralytic shellfish toxins and to release bioactive extracellular compounds (BECs) with potent cytotoxic, hemolytic, ichtyotoxic and allelopathic activity. Negative allelochemical interactions refer to the chemicals that are released by the genus Alexandrium and that induce adverse effects on the physiology of co-occurring protists and predators. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Oct 29;81:456-462. Epub 2018 Jul 29.

Muping Coastal Environmental Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Yantai, Shandong, 264117, PR China. Electronic address:

Seawater acidification (OA) and cadmium (Cd) has the potential to lead to immunosuppression effect on marine bivalves. However, the interaction between these two environmental stressors on immune system of marine bivalves has received limited attention. In order to evaluate the defense responses of oysters under the combined exposure to OA and cadmium, the oysters Crassostrea gigas were exposed to 10 μg/L Cd at three pH levels (8. Read More

Maturitas 2018 Sep 20;115:64-68. Epub 2018 Jun 20.

Computational and Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.

Macro-plastic pollution is found in terrestrial and marine environments and is degraded to micro-particles (MP) and nano-particles (NP) of plastic. These can enter the human food chain either by inhalation or by ingestion, particularly of shellfish and crustaceans. Absorption across the gastrointestinal tract is relatively low, especially for MPs, which appear to have little toxicity. Read More