OMICs Approaches in Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins Research.

Area of Science:

• Marine toxicology
• Environmental chemistry
• Food safety

Background:

• Diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs), including okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxins (DTXs), are prevalent marine toxins impacting coastal regions.
• These toxins, produced by dinoflagellates like *Dinophysis*, accumulate in seafood, posing risks to human health through consumption.
• While OA toxicology and DST accumulation are understood, molecular mechanisms of uptake, distribution, and metabolism remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the contributions of OMICs methodologies to diarrhetic shellfish toxin (DST) research.
• To discuss the future prospects of OMICs in elucidating DST toxicology and impacts.
• To highlight the significance of DST research for public health, food safety, and aquaculture.

Main Methods:

• Systematic analysis of existing literature on DSTs and OMICs applications.
• Review of transcriptomics and proteomics studies related to marine toxin research.
• Assessment of OMICs' effectiveness in identifying metabolic pathways affected by toxins.

Main Results:

• OMICs approaches, including transcriptomics and proteomics, offer powerful tools for studying marine toxin metabolism.
• These methods have begun to reveal insights into the molecular and metabolic processes of DSTs in aquatic organisms.
• Existing knowledge gaps concern the detailed molecular interactions and metabolic fate of DSTs within the food chain.

Conclusions:

• OMICs research is vital for advancing our understanding of DST toxicology and their effects on aquatic ecosystems.
• Continued application of OMICs will improve risk assessment for seafood safety and support sustainable aquaculture.
• Further investigation into DSTs' molecular mechanisms is essential for safeguarding public health.