Special Issue on Marine Toxins

Abstract

and the United States. The reviews and research articles provide the interested reader with a global view of marine toxins research during [2007][2008]. Review ArticlesFourteen review articles on several marine toxins and their impact on animal and human health are presented. Leone and colleagues from Italy and the Russian Federation [1] provide an update on the molecular structure of endotoxins from marine Gram-negative bacteria, and discuss their potential as lead candidates in the development of novel drugs to prevent septic shock. Turk and colleagues from Slovenia [2] present the current status of the mechanisms of toxicity of 3-alkylpyridinium polymers isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. Twiner and colleagues from Charleston, South Carolina [3] review recent advances on the chemistry of various azaspiracid analogs, the putative progenitor algal species, as well as in vitro and in vivo data on the toxicology to human health. Paz and colleagues from Spain [4] discuss in their review the origin of yessotoxins, marine polyether toxins isolated from the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis, the producer organisms and vectors, the chemical structures, the biosynthetic origin and toxicological properties, and the potential risks of yessotoxins to human health. Berry and colleagues from Miami, Florida [5] review freshwater and marine cyanobacterial toxins as allelochemicals with potential applications as algaecides, herbicides and insecticides, including recent results from investigations into cyanobacterial toxins from the Florida Everglades and associated waterways. Klisch and Häder from Germany [6] provide a comprehensive review on UV-protective mycosporine-like amino acids which are produced by freshwater and marine cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms, highlighting both the common characteristics of OPEN ACCESS