The Contribution of the Analysis and Scientific Research of Toxins on Forensic Toxinology

Dear Colleagues,

Toxins represent a global public health problem due to their ability to cause damage to organs and tissues. They include a wide range of polypeptides and enzymes, of natural or synthetic origin, and are classified based on their production and biological action. Among them, notable are food toxins (such as mycotoxins), microbiological toxins (produced by bacteria, viruses, or fungi), and toxins of animal origin (such as venoms). In recent years, the study of toxins, by virtue of their incredible diffusion, has seen increasing prevalence in the literature, generating very strong scientific interest. In fact, these toxins show, due to their intrinsic chemical, biological, and adaptive properties, a notable impact on the organism and on human health, being able to cause important side effects on organs and systems, as far as poisoning and death. Today, investigations on toxins mainly take place through in vitro laboratory models or in an in vivo manner through animal models.

However, there are numerous side effects that toxins can cause on human organs and tissues, from poisoning to neoplastic diseases up to death in cases of intoxication. These effects can occur with acute or chronic mechanisms depending on the toxins analyzed. It is critical that these side effects be studied in humans and that the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the toxins be monitored. Furthermore, it is essential that the mechanisms by which toxins can cause negative effects on the human organism and even death are explored.

The aim of this Special Issue is to emphasize the contribution that forensic sciences and forensic pathology could offer in the biological study of toxins through the analysis of the cadaver and of intoxications or deaths related to toxins in various cases of exposure. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to emphasize the negative effects that toxins can cause on human tissues or organs and the contribution that postmortem investigations, such as autopsy, can offer.

In this direction, this Special Issue places emphasis on the birth of a real branch, such as "forensic toxinology", useful for investigating biological mechanisms and toxicity through the postmortem study of tissues and biological samples from cadaver. From this perspective, to date, no standardized analysis protocols have been developed for the study of toxins on corpses, with limitations still evident in cases of the analysis of suspected poisoning or human exposure. This Special Issue welcomes the submission of all contributions that analyze the negative effects of various toxins on the human body (food, environmental, microbiological, animal) and that propose new research investigation protocols.

Dr. Matteo Antonio Sacco
Dr. Isabella Aquila
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• mycotoxins
• forensic sciences
• autopsy
• microbiological toxins
• animal toxins
• poisoning
• laboratory investigations
• side effects of toxins
• mechanisms of action of toxins