An Antivenom Cocktail, Made by a Llama
17 days ago
- #nanobodies
- #antivenom
- #snakebite
- Researchers developed a broad-coverage antivenom using nanobodies from llamas and alpacas, protecting mice against 17 of 18 deadly African snake venoms.
- The antivenom outperformed the commercial product Inoserp PAN-Africa in rescue experiments, showing better neutralization and survival rates.
- Traditional antivenom production involves immunizing horses or sheep, but camelid nanobodies offer advantages like smaller size, stability, and easier manufacturing.
- Snake venom complexity varies by species, geography, and age, making broad-spectrum antivenoms challenging but essential for effective treatment.
- Computational approaches like RFDiffusion have been used to design antivenoms targeting specific toxins, but they lack coverage for other harmful venom components like PLA₂.
- The new antivenom cocktail combines eight nanobodies, showing promise for scalability and lower production costs compared to traditional methods.
- Challenges remain in extending this approach to other regions like India, where viper venoms differ significantly from elapid venoms.
- Funding and manufacturing scalability are critical hurdles to address the global antivenom crisis and meet WHO's 2030 goals.