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Topic Review
Aerogel Compounds
Aerogels have started to be considered as “advanced materials”; therefore, as a general consideration, aerogels’ toxicity testing should focus on their functionality which resides in their nanoscale open internal porosity. 
  • 480
  • 28 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Ageritin from Pioppino Mushroom
Ageritin is a specific ribonuclease, extracted from the edible mushroom Cyclocybe aegerita (synonym Agrocybe aegerita), which cleaves a single phosphodiester bond located within the universally conserved alpha-sarcin loop (SRL) of 23–28S rRNAs.This toxin is the prototype of ribotoxin-like protein family present in edible mushroom and possesses antifungal/antiviral activities and selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells with potential use in biotechnological applications (as bio-insecticides or antitumor agents).
  • 677
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Alkenylbenzenes and Food
Alkenylbenzenes are potentially toxic (genotoxic and carcinogenic) compounds present in plants such as basil, tarragon, anise star and lemongrass. These plants are found in various edible consumer products, e.g., popularly used to flavour food. Thus, there are concerns about the possible health consequences upon increased exposure to alkenylbenzenes especially due to food intake. It is therefore important to constantly monitor the amounts of alkenylbenzenes in our food chain. 
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Anabaenopeptins
Anabaenopeptins (APs) are structurally diverse peptides widely distributed in distinct ecosystems among cyanobacteria. Some structural features of these molecules are shared with other cyanotoxins, such as the presence of modified residues, exocyclic amino acids, circular structure, and amino acids in D-configuration. However, among the cyanopeptides, the ureido linkage is exclusively found in APs. Thus, these cyclic peptides demonstrate toxicity and structural diversity which will be explored in this topic, including biotechnological and ecological relevance, and their distribution.
  • 800
  • 16 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Animal Toxin Historical Outlook from Paris Institut Pasteur
The term “toxin” is derived from the Greek word “toxon”, which refers to a bow, implying poisoned arrows, while “poison” is a broader term originating from the Latin “potionem” (meaning a drink). Initially, it denoted harmful liquid substances, and later, it encompassed any dangerous substances. The earliest civilizations were familiar with animal poisons, often using them in combination with plant toxins for hunting and fishing. They also recognized toxins for their potential therapeutic or psychoactive effects, capable of inciting fury, trances, love, and ecstasy.
  • 223
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Anticancer Effects of Bee Venom and Its Components
Among the various natural compounds used in alternative and Oriental medicine, toxins isolated from different organisms have had their application for many years, and Apis mellifera venom has been studied the most extensively. Numerous studies dealing with the positive assets of bee venom (BV) indicated its beneficial properties. The usage of bee products to prevent the occurrence of diseases and for their treatment is often referred to as apitherapy and is based mainly on the experience of the traditional system of medical practice in diverse ethnic communities. Today, a large number of studies are focused on the antitumor effects of BV, which are mainly attributed to its basic polypeptide melittin (MEL). 
  • 57
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Antioxidant Properties of Taxifolin
Polyphenols are the most numerous and widely distributed compounds of plant origin. They are involved in various processes of the growth and development of plants, and their protection against unfavorable environmental factors. They enter the body of humans and animals with plant food. The intake of polyphenols or polyphenol-rich food products might be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and other diseases. More than 8000 polyphenols have been identified; of these, more than 4000 compounds belong to the group of flavonoids. In nature, polyphenols occur as monomers, oligomers, and polymers (proanthocyanidins, condensed tannins). There is also evidence indicating that, during the storage and aging of food products and beverages with a high content of flavonoids, the latter react with carbonyl compounds such as acetaldehyde, methylglyoxal, glyoxylic acid, and furfurol, which results in the formation of monomeric, oligomeric, and polymeric adducts.
  • 734
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Applications of the Comet Assay in Plant Studies
Contrarily to chronic stresses, acute (i.e., fast and dramatic) changes in environmental factors like temperature, radiation, concentration of toxic substances, or pathogen attack often lead to DNA damage. Some of the stress factors are genotoxic, i.e., they damage the DNA via physical interactions or via interference with DNA replication/repair machinery. However, cytotoxic factors, i.e., those that do not directly damage the DNA, can lead to secondary genotoxic effects either via the induction of the production of reactive oxygen, carbon, or nitrogen species, or via the activation of programmed cell death and related endonucleases. The extent of this damage, as well as the ability of the cell to repair it, represent a significant part of plant stress responses. Information about DNA damage is important for physiological studies as it helps to understand the complex adaptive responses of plants and even to predict the outcome of the plant’s exposure to acute stress. Single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) provides a convenient and relatively inexpensive tool to evaluate DNA strand breaks in the different organs of higher plants, as well as in unicellular algae. Comet assays are widely used in ecotoxicology and biomonitoring applications.
  • 60
  • 29 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Autism
AhR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that belongs to basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH)/Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) family, which is involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, and cancer imitation. AhR plays an important role in various physiological pathways, including host defense, immunity, stem cell maintenance, cell differentiation, and xenobiotic metabolism. It was initially believed that AhR is activated only by a group of environmental pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
  • 955
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Assays for Pertussis Toxin
One of the main virulence factors produced by Bordetella pertussis is pertussis toxin (PTx) which, in its inactivated form, is the major component of all marketed acellular pertussis vaccines. PTx ADP ribosylates Gαi proteins, thereby affecting the inhibition of adenylate cyclases and resulting in the accumulation of cAMP. Apart from this classical model, PTx also activates some receptors and can affect various ADP ribosylation- and adenylate cyclase-independent signalling pathways. Due to its potent ADP-ribosylation properties, PTx has been used in many research areas. Initially the research primarily focussed on the in vivo effects of the toxin, including histamine sensitization, insulin secretion and leukocytosis. Nowadays, PTx is also used in toxicology research, cell signalling, research involving the blood–brain barrier, and testing of neutralizing antibodies. However, the most important area of use is testing of acellular pertussis vaccines for the presence of residual PTx. In vivo models and in vitro assays for PTx often reflect one of the toxin’s properties or details of its mechanism.
  • 538
  • 16 Aug 2021
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