URECHITOXIN Meaning and
Definition
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Urechitoxin is a specific type of toxin derived from the dinoflagellate species Karenia brevis, commonly known as red tide. It is a neurotoxin that poses a significant threat to marine life, humans, and ecosystems. Urechitoxin is primarily responsible for the harmful algal blooms (HABs) that occur in coastal areas and estuaries, leading to the phenomenon known as red tide.
When present in high concentrations, urechitoxin can have detrimental effects on the nervous systems of various organisms. In marine life, this can lead to mass fish kills and the deaths of other marine animals such as dolphins, turtles, and manatees. It can also cause respiratory problems in humans and shellfish poisoning known as neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) when contaminated shellfish are consumed.
Urechitoxin acts by binding and inhibiting the function of voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cells, which disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses and ultimately affects the normal functioning of the nervous system. This mode of action is believed to be responsible for the observed symptoms in both marine organisms and humans.
Efforts are continually being made to monitor and control the occurrence of urechitoxin in order to mitigate its impacts on ecosystems and human health. Monitoring programs provide early warnings of impending red tides, allowing for the closure of affected shellfish harvesting areas and implementation of necessary precautions to minimize exposure to urechitoxin.
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A glucoside from Urechites suberecta.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for URECHITOXIN
- yrechitoxin
- hrechitoxin
- jrechitoxin
- irechitoxin
- 8rechitoxin
- 7rechitoxin
- ueechitoxin
- udechitoxin
- ufechitoxin
- utechitoxin
- u5echitoxin
- u4echitoxin
- urwchitoxin
- urschitoxin
- urdchitoxin
- urrchitoxin
- ur4chitoxin
- ur3chitoxin
- urexhitoxin
- urevhitoxin
