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Brevetoxin B

Brevetoxin is a harmful marine neurotoxin found in algae which causes poisoning of humans and death to marine life when ingested

Chemical Formula: C₅₀H₇₀O₁₄

Layman's explanation: Brevetoxin B is a marine neurotoxin, produced by the algae Ptychodiscus brevis Davis, which has been responsible for the poisoning of many humans and death of many fish during the "red tide". When ingested it binds to sodium charmels on cell membranes and causes a massive invasion of sodium ions which eventually will cause cell famine. Usually humans do not eat the algae directly but instead ingest a marine organism which ate the algae. This toxin is often associated with Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning or NSP; where neurological, gastrointestinal, and asthma-like symptoms occur. It was first synthesized in 1995 by K.C Nicolaou, a chemistry professor, at the University of California.

Keywords: neurotoxin, Ptychodiscus brevis Davis, NSP, Nicolaou, red tide

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