What would happen as a result of anatoxin-a poisoning?
Anatoxin-a is an alkaloid neurotoxin that acts as a potent neuro-muscular blocking agent at the nicotinic receptor. Acute toxicity, following consumption of contaminated water, is characterized by rapid onset of paralysis, tremors, convulsions and death.
How does anatoxin-a affect the nervous system?
Anatoxin is a severe neurotoxin, and as such affects the functioning of the nervous system, often causing death due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. It is known that it acts as a mimic of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine and irreversibly binds the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAChR).
What causes Anatoxin?
Anatoxin-a is a neurotoxin produced by multiple genera of freshwater cyanobacteria that are found in water bodies globally. Many cases of anatoxin-a related animal deaths have occurred due to ingestion of detached benthic cyanobacterial mats that have washed ashore.
What are the effects of saxitoxin?
Clinical manifestations of oral numbness, gastrointestinal distress, vertigo, tachycardia, and headache occur within approximately 30 minutes of saxitoxin ingestion. Symptoms may include incoordination, dysarthria, and respiratory distress. Death secondary to respiratory failure can occur within 1 to 24 hours.
What do Saxitoxins do?
Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin that acts as a selective, reversible, voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. One of the most potent known natural toxins, it acts on the voltage-gated sodium channels of neurons, preventing normal cellular function and leading to paralysis.
How does Anatoxin cause paralysis in muscles?
1 Anatoxins It is a cholinergic agonist that binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in nerves and at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Subsequent depolarization that opens voltage-sensitive Ca2+ and Na+ channels can lead to muscle paralysis and death by asphyxiation (Falconer, 1998).
How toxic are Cyanotoxins?
Of all the cyanotoxins, the cyclic peptides are of most concern to human health. The microcystins and nodularins poison the liver, and exposure to high doses can cause death. Exposure to low doses in drinking water over a long period of time may promote liver and other tumours.
Is nostoc harmful to humans?
Among the photosynthetic microorganisms, cyanobacteria, belonging to the genus Nostoc are regarded as good candidate for producing biologically active secondary metabolites which are highly toxic to humans and other animals.
What is saxitoxin poisoning?
Saxitoxin (STX) is a potent neurotoxin and the best-known paralytic shellfish toxin (PST). Ingestion of saxitoxin by humans, usually by consumption of shellfish contaminated by toxic algal blooms, is responsible for the illness known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
Why is saxitoxin May fatal to humans?
The long-established molecular target of saxitoxin is the voltage-gated sodium channel in nerve and muscle cells, to which it binds with high affinity and can result in death via respiratory paralysis [29].
What is the key body system is targeted by saxitoxin?
What are the side effects of Saxitoxin poisoning?
Clinical description. Ingestion of saxitoxin can cause numbness of the oral mucosa as quickly as 30 minutes after exposure. In severe poisoning, illness typically progresses rapidly and may include gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting) and neurological (cranial nerve dysfunction, a floating sensation, headache, muscle weakness,…
What is the alert level for saxitoxin in shellfish?
The United States Food and Drug Administration alert level for saxitoxin is 80 μg/100 g shellfish meat, and so, commercial shellfish harvesting in the US must be suspended if higher concentrations are detected in routine monitoring programs [ 83 ]. The limit of detection of the MBA is ca. 40 μg STX eq/100 g shellfish.
When does saxitoxin cause numbness in oral mucosa?
Ingestion of saxitoxin can cause numbness of the oral mucosa as quickly as 30 minutes after exposure.
Which is parent molecule of shellfish toxin saxitoxin?
Saxitoxin is the parent molecule in a class of compounds, typically referred to as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). Its basic structure is that of a trialkyl tetrahydropurine, with positions 2 and 8 of the purine ring containing the NH 2 groups, which form the two permanent guanidinium moieties [16].