Effects of Cyanotoxins: Sea and Freshwater Toxins

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Marine and Freshwater Toxins

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI))

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Abstract

Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of toxins with different chemical composition and molecular targets. Cyanobacterial neurotoxins comprise a variety of compounds acting either on acetylcholine receptors or acetylcholinesterase, on voltage-gated sodium channels and on excitatory neuronal synapses. Acute intoxications can be lethal and they mainly present as paralytic shellfish poisoning. Chronic exposure may lead to neurodegenerative disorders. Hepatotoxins and neurotoxins present two main groups of cyanobacterial toxins that affect human health. Nodularin and microcystins are hepatotoxins characterized by the presence of non-proteinogenic β-amino acid ADDA in cyclic penta- or heptapeptide structure. Best known acute lethal intoxications of humans have occurred in Brazil, but chronic exposure to these toxins leading to multi-organ failure is a more serious and widespread health problem. Microcystins are also tumor promoters, and there are several reports showing harmful effects of long-term exposure to microcystins in highly populated regions of China and other parts of the world. Cyanobacterial toxins must be considered as a serious threat, and high safety measures must be followed in monitoring the quality of water and food used in human nutrition, medical care, and recreational activities.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Research Agency of Slovenia (ARRS); grant P3-0019.

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Correspondence to Dušan Šuput .

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Šuput, D. (2016). Effects of Cyanotoxins: Sea and Freshwater Toxins. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P., Haddad Jr., V., Tubaro, A., Kim, E., Kem, W. (eds) Marine and Freshwater Toxins. Toxinology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6419-4_15

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