Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>

Harmful algal blooms are an expanding phenomenon negatively impacting human health, socio-economic welfare, and ecosystems. Such events increase the risk of marine organisms’ exposure to algal toxins with consequent ecological effects. In this frame, the objective of this study was to investigate th...

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Main Authors: Federica Cavion, Silvio Sosa, Jane Kilcoyne, Alessandra D’Arelli, Cristina Ponti, Michela Carlin, Aurelia Tubaro, Marco Pelin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/80
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author Federica Cavion
Silvio Sosa
Jane Kilcoyne
Alessandra D’Arelli
Cristina Ponti
Michela Carlin
Aurelia Tubaro
Marco Pelin
author_facet Federica Cavion
Silvio Sosa
Jane Kilcoyne
Alessandra D’Arelli
Cristina Ponti
Michela Carlin
Aurelia Tubaro
Marco Pelin
author_sort Federica Cavion
collection DOAJ
description Harmful algal blooms are an expanding phenomenon negatively impacting human health, socio-economic welfare, and ecosystems. Such events increase the risk of marine organisms’ exposure to algal toxins with consequent ecological effects. In this frame, the objective of this study was to investigate the ecotoxicological potential of three globally distributed dinoflagellate toxins (okadaic acid, OA; dinophysistoxin-1, DTX-1; dinophysistoxin-2, DTX-2) using <i>Artemia franciscana</i> as a model organism of marine zooplankton. Each toxin (0.1–100 nM) was evaluated for its toxic effects in terms of cyst hatching, mortality of nauplii Instar I and adults, and biochemical responses related to oxidative stress. At the highest concentration (100 nM), these toxins significantly increased adults’ mortality starting from 24 h (DTX-1), 48 h (OA), or 72 h (DTX-2) exposures, DTX-1 being the most potent one, followed by OA and DTX-2. The quantitation of oxidative stress biomarkers in adults, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and activity of three endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) showed that only DTX-2 significantly increased ROS production, whereas each toxin affected the antioxidant enzymes with a different activity profile. In general, the results indicate a negative impact of these toxins towards <i>A. franciscana</i> with potential consequences on the marine ecosystem.
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spelling doaj-art-16c8c5a16cbc4eae9bde5d4cdecd0bda2025-08-20T03:12:19ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-02-011728010.3390/toxins17020080Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>Federica Cavion0Silvio Sosa1Jane Kilcoyne2Alessandra D’Arelli3Cristina Ponti4Michela Carlin5Aurelia Tubaro6Marco Pelin7Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyMarine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, H91 R673 County Galway, IrelandDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyHarmful algal blooms are an expanding phenomenon negatively impacting human health, socio-economic welfare, and ecosystems. Such events increase the risk of marine organisms’ exposure to algal toxins with consequent ecological effects. In this frame, the objective of this study was to investigate the ecotoxicological potential of three globally distributed dinoflagellate toxins (okadaic acid, OA; dinophysistoxin-1, DTX-1; dinophysistoxin-2, DTX-2) using <i>Artemia franciscana</i> as a model organism of marine zooplankton. Each toxin (0.1–100 nM) was evaluated for its toxic effects in terms of cyst hatching, mortality of nauplii Instar I and adults, and biochemical responses related to oxidative stress. At the highest concentration (100 nM), these toxins significantly increased adults’ mortality starting from 24 h (DTX-1), 48 h (OA), or 72 h (DTX-2) exposures, DTX-1 being the most potent one, followed by OA and DTX-2. The quantitation of oxidative stress biomarkers in adults, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and activity of three endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) showed that only DTX-2 significantly increased ROS production, whereas each toxin affected the antioxidant enzymes with a different activity profile. In general, the results indicate a negative impact of these toxins towards <i>A. franciscana</i> with potential consequences on the marine ecosystem.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/80diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxinsokadaic aciddinophysistoxins<i>Artemia franciscana</i>ecotoxicologyoxidative stress
spellingShingle Federica Cavion
Silvio Sosa
Jane Kilcoyne
Alessandra D’Arelli
Cristina Ponti
Michela Carlin
Aurelia Tubaro
Marco Pelin
Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
Toxins
diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins
okadaic acid
dinophysistoxins
<i>Artemia franciscana</i>
ecotoxicology
oxidative stress
title Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
title_full Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
title_fullStr Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
title_short Effects of Dinoflagellate Toxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 on the Microcrustacean <i>Artemia franciscana</i>
title_sort effects of dinoflagellate toxins okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin 1 and 2 on the microcrustacean i artemia franciscana i
topic diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins
okadaic acid
dinophysistoxins
<i>Artemia franciscana</i>
ecotoxicology
oxidative stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/80
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