University of Maryland scientists have developed a potent, nature-inspired antivenom by combining proteins that protect rattlesnakes from their own venom.
Key facts
- •The World Health Organization estimates that venomous snakebites kill between 80,000 and 140,000 people annually.
- •Researchers found that optimized protein mixtures were 10 times more potent than existing sheep-derived rattlesnake antivenom in laboratory tests.
- •The study focused on FETUA proteins, which snakes evolved over 50 million years to protect themselves from their own venom.
- •A single snake venom can contain approximately 100 different toxin proteins, complicating the development of universal treatments.
- •The research was led by Sean B. Carroll and included co-authors from the University of Maryland and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified a new method for treating venomous snakebites by utilizing toxin-blocking proteins found in the blood of western diamondback rattlesnakes. Led by Professor Sean B. Carroll, the team discovered that these proteins, which snakes evolved for self-protection, can be combined to neutralize venom from various dangerous snake species. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer a potential path toward safer, more effective antivenoms.
By the numbers
Limitations of Current Antivenom Treatments
Existing antivenoms are typically created by injecting snake venom into large animals and collecting the resulting antibodies. This manufacturing process is costly and can produce treatments with variable effectiveness. Furthermore, these traditional antivenoms may not work against the diverse range of toxins found in different snake species and can trigger serious immune reactions in human patients.
The Role of FETUA Proteins
In 2022, researchers identified a protein called FETUA-3 that could block metalloproteinase toxins in rattlesnake venom. Building on this, the team examined how various FETUA proteins contribute to venom resistance. While individual proteins could mitigate specific effects like bleeding or enzyme activity, they were insufficient to prevent death on their own. However, when researchers tested optimized mixtures of these proteins, the combinations proved significantly more effective than current sheep-derived antivenoms.
Future Applications and Development
Laboratory experiments showed that these protein combinations were approximately 10 times more potent than current treatments and provided broad protection against multiple viper species. The research team is currently applying this strategy to target other major toxin families. Professor Carroll anticipates that the first commercial applications of these lab-produced, nature-based antivenoms will likely emerge in veterinary medicine before eventually being developed for human use.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
