摘要:A number of unicellular microalgae, either planktonic or benthic and either with or without flagella, elaborate toxins which are accumulated by fish or shellfish and lead to human intoxication when the fish or shellfish are consumed. Examples are demonstrated with Protogonyaulax spp. and Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressa in paralytic shellfish poisoning, Dinophysis fortii in diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, Gambierdiscur toxicus in ciguatera, and Ptychodiscus brevis in neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Recent progress made on the chemical structures and pharmacological properties of the causative toxins was reviewed with emphasis on saxitoxin derivatives, okadaic acid and its esters, dinophysistoxins, ciguatoxin and maitotoxin, and brevetoxins. Toxins involved in mass fish kills are also reviewed briefly.