Chemical Ecological Interactions and Bioactivity Mechanisms of Marine Biotoxins and Venoms

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the complex chemical interactions among toxigenic and venomous marine species and the exquisite mode of action of biotoxin in aquatic ecosystems. The primary focus is on toxigenesis by microeukaryotes, marine bacteria (particularly cyanobacteria), as well as metazoa, macroalgae, and marine plants. Although the main theme is associated primarily with marine biotoxins, relevant comparative contributions from toxigenic species in freshwater and brackish water are also welcome. Toxin biosynthetic pathways and gene regulation are considered in this context within an eco-evolutionary framework. Chemical ecological interactions mediated by biotoxins and other allelochemicals remain poorly understood. To some extent, this is due to the imprecise or inaccurate definition of the toxin's mode of action based on toxicological evaluations in target assay systems with little ecological relevance. Many bioactive compounds are designated as toxins if they exhibit adverse effects on the growth, behavior, or survival of specified living systems, including marine mammals, metazoa, fish, and seabirds, with exposure occurring via accumulation and transfer in marine food webs. Human consumers of biotoxin-contaminated seafood or those exposed to toxic blooms or their aerosolized toxins through contact may also be collateral victims, but without providing much further knowledge of the functional ecological significance. Marine biotoxins are often assumed to have evolved for chemical defense against predation, to facilitate prey capture, or to modulate competitive interactions; however, proof of this strategy is frequently lacking, particularly among microeukaryotes and cyanobacteria. A deeper understanding of their ecological roles, interactions, and potential applications is crucial for addressing contemporary challenges and developing sustainable solutions to mitigate risks to human health and ecosystem function resulting from biotoxin prevalence in marine ecosystems.

The chemical ecology of marine biotoxins represents a frontier area of research that warrants further investigation. This Special Issue will compile scientific contributions that examine the multifaceted roles of toxigenic biota from diverse perspectives.

Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Ecological and functional evolutionary role of marine biotoxins and venoms in aquatic ecosystems;
• Biosynthetic pathways and gene regulation of biotoxins and other allelochemicals;
• Species interactions mediated by known or putative biotoxins and venoms, including receptors and signaling pathways;
• Bioaccumulation and biotransformation mechanisms of biotoxins in marine food webs and their ecological consequences in ecosystem function;
• Effects of changing climate and anthropogenic factors on biotoxin production and dynamics in aquatic ecosystems;
• Genetic adaptation and acclimation responses as drivers of global range extension and invasions of toxigenic species;
• Advanced technologies for metagenomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis of biosynthetic genes and structural elucidation of biotoxins;
• Exploration of known biotoxins and allelochemical metabolites with pharmacological potential and their future applications in human health

We welcome a variety of article types, each offering unique insights and advancing knowledge in the field. These include the following:

• Original Research Articles: Comprehensive studies presenting innovative findings, emphasizing methodological rigor and the development of new protocols;
• Short Research Reports: Brief contributions highlighting significant preliminary results or creative methodologies;
• Comprehensive Reviews: Thorough analyses that provide a wide-ranging perspective on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the study of microalgae and their societal impacts.

We particularly encourage submissions of original research articles that provide thorough methodological descriptions and advance the development of protocols relevant to the study of mechanisms underlying metabolic regulation by marine biotoxins.

This Special Issue will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, bringing together researchers from diverse fields to address the complex chemical-ecological interactions mediated by biotoxins, venoms, and allelochemicals in aquatic ecosystems and to provide sustainable solutions and risk assessment criteria for seafood safety and security. We invite scientists to contribute their expertise and insights to this critical and timely theme.

Prof. Dr. Allan Cembella
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.