Project

Methode ontwikkeling en surveys fycotoxinen t.b.v. WOT

Natural toxins in food (mycotoxins, marine biotoxins and phytotoxins) are important factors in the occurrence of disease symptoms. This project responds to the need for innovative (validated) chemical research methods that are more efficient and more effective than existing methods, and that can adequately replace the official bioassays using experimental animals for calculating marine biotoxin concentrations.

Goals

The project goals are to develop and validate a suitable analysis method for the enforcement of EU regulations, to publish this method and to obtain data on the occurrence and significance of several specific marine biotoxins. The project will also lead to greater understanding of the responsible algae, their cultivation and the production of the respective toxins and metabolites.

Method

The research will focus on the following topics:

  • 'Conventional' method development, validation and efficiency improvement for, among other things, European regulations
  • 'Innovative' method development and prototype evaluation
  • Surveys and monitoring
  • International collaboration

Project results

The research must ensure that the Netherlands is able to identify all relevant classes of marine biotoxins that can possibly be present in shellfish and crustaceans in Dutch coastal waters, but also in sea fish in general. To this end, a number of chemical methods will be developed for various classes of marine biotoxins, including paralytic shellfish toxins and palytoxins. In addition, a general chemical method will also be developed for screening different classes of marine biotoxins in various matrices. Apart from leading to the establishment of practical methods, the results will also be presented at Dutch and international symposia and within the EURL/NRL network. Furthermore, the project will increase knowledge of the production of marine biotoxins and metabolites from algae.


Publications


Natural toxins in food (mycotoxins, marine biotoxins and phytotoxins) are important factors in the occurrence of disease symptoms. This project responds to the need for innovative (validated) chemical research methods that are more efficient and more effective than existing methods, and that can adequately replace the official bioassays using experimental animals for calculating marine biotoxin concentrations.

Goals

The project goals are to develop and validate a suitable analysis method for the enforcement of EU regulations, to publish this method and to obtain data on the occurrence and significance of several specific marine biotoxins. The project will also lead to greater understanding of the responsible algae, their cultivation and the production of the respective toxins and metabolites.

Method

The research will focus on the following topics:

  • 'Conventional' method development, validation and efficiency improvement for, among other things, European regulations
  • 'Innovative' method development and prototype evaluation
  • Surveys and monitoring
  • International collaboration

Project results

The research must ensure that the Netherlands is able to identify all relevant classes of marine biotoxins that can possibly be present in shellfish and crustaceans in Dutch coastal waters, but also in sea fish in general. To this end, a number of chemical methods will be developed for various classes of marine biotoxins, including paralytic shellfish toxins and palytoxins. In addition, a general chemical method will also be developed for screening different classes of marine biotoxins in various matrices. Apart from leading to the establishment of practical methods, the results will also be presented at Dutch and international symposia and within the EURL/NRL network. Furthermore, the project will increase knowledge of the production of marine biotoxins and metabolites from algae.


Publications