Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered that proteins protecting rattlesnakes from their own venom could form the basis of a universal antidote, reports infohub.kz.
A team led by Distinguished Professor of Biology Sean B. Carroll has developed a promising treatment for venomous snake bites by borrowing the natural defense mechanism of the reptiles themselves. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers combined specific protective proteins from the blood of the Texas rattlesnake, achieving high neutralization of dangerous toxins.
According to the World Health Organization, venomous snakes kill between 80,000 and 140,000 people annually. Existing antivenoms are produced by injecting venom into large animals and then collecting their antibodies, but these treatments are expensive to manufacture, can cause severe allergic reactions, and are not always effective against the venoms of different species.
In 2022, Carroll's team discovered a protein in snake blood called FETUA-3 that blocks toxic metalloproteinases. In the new study, the scientists, together with Elda Sanchez, director of the National Center for the Study of Natural Toxins at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, tested various combinations of FETUA family proteins.
Laboratory experiments showed that optimized protein mixtures were approximately 10 times more effective than the current antivenom derived from sheep blood. The combination completely neutralized the lethal effect of rattlesnake venom and provided broad protection against the venoms of other viper species. The authors hope that laboratory-produced recombinant preparations will become a safe and affordable alternative to existing antivenoms.