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The 1997-1998 period brought many new developments to the phycotoxin field. There were several reviews on phycotoxins in general, on their toxicological evaluation, and on their analysis. The ecophysiology, biosynthesis, and metabolism of polyether toxins and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins were also reviewed. The proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Harmful Algae (Vigo, Spain, June 25-29, 1997) have been published and provide an excellent source of information on phycotoxins and toxic plankton bloom research. In addition, the much anticipated proceedings of the IX International IUPAC Symposium on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins (Rome, Italy, May 27-31, 1996) have been published. Further evidence was provided to support the theory that Prorocentrum lima is the source organism for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins in Nova Scotian shellfish. In another study, different Prorocentrum species and isolates were analyzed for DSP toxins. In addition to detecting some new compounds, such as a DTX1 isomer, it was found that toxins were produced by both axenic and nonaxenic batch cultures, indicating that bacteria are probably not involved in the biosynthesis. The source organism for the spirolides, a family of fast-acting toxins reported from Nova Scotia, Canada, was determined to be Alexandrium ostenfeldii, a species that is found worldwide. The biogenetic origin of yessotoxin was reported to be Protoceratium reticulatum, another widely occurring organism. A great deal of attention and research funding has been directed at the serious problems associated with Pfiesteria piscicida. Analysts are eagerly awaiting publication of toxin structures, which will then allow the development of analytical methods. An incident of the mass mortality of California sea lions was reported in the Monterey area in May 1998. Analyses of tissue and urine samples revealed the presence of domoic acid. High levels of domoic acid were also found in anchovies and sardines, a common food source of sea lions. This is reminiscent of an incident of mass bird mortality in 1992 in the same region. Toxicological studies of domoic acid continue with one investigation on the effect of pH on toxicity in the mouse assay and others examining toxic effects in rats and cynomolgus monkeys. A study on the uptake and depuration of domoic acid in the Dungeness crab was reported. On October 20, 1997, EU (European Union) directive CE97/61 established a regulatory limit of 20 ppm for domoic acid in European shellfish, the same level as in North America. A detailed study on the oral toxicity of DSP toxins in mice was reported. Recent work by several researchers has revealed the genotoxic potential of okadaic acid and other DSP toxins. Previous work had clearly demonstrated the tumor-promoting potential of DSP toxins, but this recent evidence, which shows mutations in the progeny of okadaic acid-treated cells and the formation of DNA-adducts, increases concerns over the hazards associated with DSP-contaminated shellfish. The toxicology of yessotoxin was evaluated by Ogino et al. The toxin showed weak cytotoxicity, but was not orally lethal to mice at 10 mg/kg, and did not cause intestinal fluid accumulation, inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), or hemolytic effects. Similarly, Tubaro et al. saw no evidence for diarrheogenicity of homoyessotoxin isolated from mussels and from the proposed planktonic producer, Lingulodinium polyedrum. All this provides further evidence that yessotoxin should not be classed as a DSP toxin. A number of new toxins have been detected and identified. Two analogues of yessotoxin, homoyessotoxin, and 45-hydroxyhomoyessotoxin were isolated from mussels of the Adriatic Sea and identified by Satake et al. A recent DSP event in Ireland associated with cultured mussels led to the identification of azaspiracid, a unique marine toxin with spiro ring assemblies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)