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Brevetoxin

Brevetoxin is a neurotoxin produced by the dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis. It's associated with Red Tide, and shellfish eaten during Red Tides that are contaminated with brevetoxin can cause paresthesias of the lips, tongue, and extremities; in very bad cases, they can cause respiratory failure.

Brevetoxin takes effect by binding to sodium channels on nerve and muscle membranes. This causes a sudden influx of sodium ions to rush into the cell, causing cell death due to sudden ionization. In addition, the cells become hyperactive. Just recently, brevetoxin has been synthesized by researchers in California.

Some researchers are examining the effects of brevetoxin on the respiratory system. This poison causes similar symptoms to bronchitis and asthma, but by the potency of the toxin, it should have caused many deaths; instead, it has caused hardly any human deaths. Researchers examining this have located another substance, brevenol, produced by algae found near the dinoflagellate, that seems to act as a sort of antidote. They are currently studying this substance as a potential treatment for respiratory diseases.

Web Resources On Brevetoxin

Brevetoxin B
Toxic tonic for deadly lung diseases?

Book Resources On Brevetoxin

An antibody to prevent the effects of brevetoxin poisoning in conscious rats by Charles B. Templeton
Red Tides by Tomotoshi Okaichi

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