Introduction to Toxicology EV 460/660 & BI 460/660 Fall 2014

Study Guide for First Exam – Part 2

Overview of Poisons - Toxins

1. Define the terms “toxin” and “toxicant”

2. Provide a brief overview of the taxonomic distribution of toxins.

3. Describe several reasons for concern about and interest in toxins.

4. Name some bacterial toxins of human health concern.

5. Name a beneficial bacterial toxin.

6. What is saxitoxin? What is paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)? What is “red tide” and how is this often a misnomer? What species produce saxitoxin, what species consumed by humans contain saxitoxin, and how do these food species accumulate saxitoxin?

7. What is ciguatoxin? What is ciguatera? What species produce ciguatoxin, what species consumed by humans contain ciguatoxin, and how do these food species accumulate ciguatoxin?

8. What are aflatoxins and trichothecenes? What species produce aflatoxins? What human foods may contain aflatoxins and trichothecenes?

9. What is allelopathy? Distinguish between positive and negative allelopathy. What species produce allelochemicals?

10. What are plant secondary compounds? How are these secondary compounds used by plants? Describes reasons for variation in concentration of secondary compounds within a plant species.

11. How does a comparison of plants poisonous to humans vs. wildlife food habits dramatically illustrate species differences in toxic responses to secondary plant compounds?

12. Name several plant toxins of common use and abuse.

13. Name (common name is OK) several familiar ornamental plants, houseplants, and noxious weeds that contain toxins of human concern.

14. Describe the effects of cyclopamine on sheep. How has understanding the mechanism of cyclopamine effects been of use in development of some anti-cancer drugs. Describe the co-evolution of fluoroacetate-accumulating plants in Australia and some Australian herbivores. What is compound 1080?

15. How do animals use toxins? Describe mimicry of some poisonous or venomous animals.

16. Distinguish between “poisonous animals” and “venomous animals”. 17. What taxonomic group of animals is responsible for more human poisonings that all other phyla combined? Name (common name is OK) several groups of venomous arthropods of human concern.

18. Name (common name is OK) representative groups of venomous coelenterates, echinoderms, and mollusks of human concern. What is a nematocyst?

19. What is fugu poisoning? What food species contain tetrodotoxin?

20. Name (common name is OK) representative groups of venomous fishes of human concern.

21. Where on the body are amphibian toxins produced and what appears to be their function?

22. Name (common name is OK) several venomous reptiles. What are the general modes of action of snake venoms?

23. Name (common name is OK) example venomous and poisonous mammals.