Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a diverse phylum of photosynthetic, Gram-negative bacteria and one of the largest microbial taxa. These organisms produce cyanotoxins, which are secondary metabolites that can have significant impacts on both human health and the environment. While...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/551 |
| _version_ | 1826915175921352704 |
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| author | Molham Al Haffar Ziad Fajloun Sami Azar Jean-Marc Sabatier Ziad Abi Khattar |
| author_facet | Molham Al Haffar Ziad Fajloun Sami Azar Jean-Marc Sabatier Ziad Abi Khattar |
| author_sort | Molham Al Haffar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a diverse phylum of photosynthetic, Gram-negative bacteria and one of the largest microbial taxa. These organisms produce cyanotoxins, which are secondary metabolites that can have significant impacts on both human health and the environment. While toxins like Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsins are well-documented and have been extensively studied, other cyanotoxins, including those produced by <i>Lyngbya</i> and <i>Nostoc</i>, remain underexplored. These lesser-known toxins can cause various health issues in humans, including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and dermatotoxicity, each through distinct mechanisms. Moreover, recent studies have shown that cyanobacteria can be aerosolized and transmitted through the air over long distances, providing an additional route for human exposure to their harmful effects. However, it remains an area that requires much more investigation to accurately assess the health risks and develop appropriate public health guidelines. In addition to direct exposure to toxins, cyanobacteria can lead to harmful algal blooms, which pose further risks to human and wildlife health, and are a global concern. There is limited knowledge about these lesser-known cyanotoxins, highlighting the need for further research to understand their clinical manifestations and improve society’s preparedness for the associated health risks. This work aims to review the existing literature on these underexplored cyanotoxins, which are associated with human intoxication, elucidate their clinical relevance, address significant challenges in cyanobacterial research, and provide guidance on mitigating their adverse effects. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-17T11:55:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64896ab46a6d4c63af30f7421e05c357 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T11:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-64896ab46a6d4c63af30f7421e05c3572024-12-27T14:57:01ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512024-12-01161255110.3390/toxins16120551Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental ImpactsMolham Al Haffar0Ziad Fajloun1Sami Azar2Jean-Marc Sabatier3Ziad Abi Khattar4Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, LebanonDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences 3, Lebanese University, Campus Michel Slayman Ras Maska, Tripoli 1352, LebanonFaculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, LebanonCNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille, FranceFaculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, LebanonCyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a diverse phylum of photosynthetic, Gram-negative bacteria and one of the largest microbial taxa. These organisms produce cyanotoxins, which are secondary metabolites that can have significant impacts on both human health and the environment. While toxins like Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsins are well-documented and have been extensively studied, other cyanotoxins, including those produced by <i>Lyngbya</i> and <i>Nostoc</i>, remain underexplored. These lesser-known toxins can cause various health issues in humans, including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and dermatotoxicity, each through distinct mechanisms. Moreover, recent studies have shown that cyanobacteria can be aerosolized and transmitted through the air over long distances, providing an additional route for human exposure to their harmful effects. However, it remains an area that requires much more investigation to accurately assess the health risks and develop appropriate public health guidelines. In addition to direct exposure to toxins, cyanobacteria can lead to harmful algal blooms, which pose further risks to human and wildlife health, and are a global concern. There is limited knowledge about these lesser-known cyanotoxins, highlighting the need for further research to understand their clinical manifestations and improve society’s preparedness for the associated health risks. This work aims to review the existing literature on these underexplored cyanotoxins, which are associated with human intoxication, elucidate their clinical relevance, address significant challenges in cyanobacterial research, and provide guidance on mitigating their adverse effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/551cyanotoxinscyanobacterianeurotoxicitydermatotoxicityhepatotoxicityharmful algal blooms |
| spellingShingle | Molham Al Haffar Ziad Fajloun Sami Azar Jean-Marc Sabatier Ziad Abi Khattar Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts Toxins cyanotoxins cyanobacteria neurotoxicity dermatotoxicity hepatotoxicity harmful algal blooms |
| title | Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts |
| title_full | Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts |
| title_fullStr | Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts |
| title_short | Lesser-Known Cyanotoxins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Health and Environmental Impacts |
| title_sort | lesser known cyanotoxins a comprehensive review of their health and environmental impacts |
| topic | cyanotoxins cyanobacteria neurotoxicity dermatotoxicity hepatotoxicity harmful algal blooms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/551 |
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