A pioneering study led by experts revealed a key step toward developing a “universal antivenom” that might counteract the venom effects of any venomous snake, according to The Conversation.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, describes the development of 95Mat5, a laboratory-created antibody designed to combat neurotoxins prevalent in the venom of many snake species worldwide.
Venomous snakes claim up to 138,000 deaths each year, with many survivors, particularly children and farmers, suffering life-changing injuries and mental distress.
The current method of producing antivenom, which involves injecting horses with snake venom, has limitations such as species specificity, poor efficacy, and the possibility of severe side effects caused by foreign antibodies from horses.
95Mat5, a newly discovered antibody, proved efficacy in avoiding paralysis and death when tested against lethal doses of venom in mice.
While promising, the researchers acknowledge the need for additional antibodies to address different toxin types present in snake venoms, such as haemotoxins and cytotoxins.
