Background Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is recognized as one of the most potent marine toxins, extensively found in marine organisms like pufferfish. Functioning as a potent sodium channel blocker, TTX has demonstrated considerable potential in medical applications such as pain relief, detoxification, and antiarrhythmic therapy. Despite these benefits, its current medical use is constrained by challenges in sourcing and low yield. Consequently, there is burgeoning interest in exploring microbial fermentation as a promising avenue for TTX production.

Objective The aim of the present study is to get to know the overview of TTX, the distribution and taxonomic diversity of TTX-producing microorganisms, research on TTX fermentation production technology, and the migration mechanism of TTX in microorganisms and the environment. Progress Currently, there is a comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical properties of TTX within the academic community, although its precise natural sources remain ambiguous. Since 1986, researchers have isolated around 150 strains of TTX-producing bacteria from organisms such as pufferfish and blue-ringed octopuses, primarily belonging to Vibrio and Bacillus species. These findings not only strongly support the microbial origin of TTX but also establish a robust foundation for further research into microbial fermentation for TTX production. Numerous scholars have conducted extensive studies on the pivotal factors influencing TTX production by these strains, as well as their migration mechanisms, yielding significant findings. Prospects Future research could focus on targeted modification of TTX-producing strains, improvement of large-scale cultivation conditions, exploration of key factors influencing TTX production by these strains, and analysis of microbial community interactions affecting TTX synthesis. These efforts would provide valuable insights into elucidating the biosynthetic mechanism of TTX. Significance Through in-depth research on TTX-producing microorganisms, the article aims to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of TTX, enabling large-scale production. This could address the challenges of sourcing and high costs, thereby expanding the potential applications of TTX in the medical field.