American scientists have developed artificial antibodies that can neutralize the venom of several venomous snakes, writes The Science News on February 27.
The work by Joseph Jardine of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and his colleagues was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The protein developed by scientists acts against toxins contained in the venom of black mambas, king cobras and dozens of other sharp-toothed snakes.
During experiments with mice, the antitoxin neutralized a lethal dose of poison. Scientists believe that in the future it will be possible to develop antibodies against other types of snake venoms and even create a universal antitoxin from a combination of antitoxins.
This is noted to be facilitated by a limited set of toxins found in snake venom. Currently, scientists are working on creating new artificial antibodies against other types of snake venoms.
According to Jardine, the new approach allows the creation of more effective antitoxins. Currently, they are created by injecting an animal (a horse or sheep) with snake venom, followed by the release of antibodies.
However, with this approach, the antibodies only act against the venom of one type of snake and, furthermore, the introduction of animal antibodies into humans is not harmless. A new approach will overcome this problem.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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