Snake envenoming causes several potentially lethal pathologies. The specific pathology is dictated by the toxin composition of venom, which varies by species, geography and ontogeny. This variation severely restricts the paraspecific efficacy of antivenoms used to treat snakebite victims. With a view to devising pathology-specific snakebite treatments, we assessed the procoagulant activity of 57 snake venoms and investigated the efficacy of various antivenoms. We find that procoagulant venoms act differentially on key steps of the coagulation cascade, and that certain monospecific antivenoms work in a previously unrecognised paraspecific manner to neutralise this activity, despite conventional assumptions of congener-restricted efficacy. Moreover, we demonstrate that the metal chelator EDTA is also capable of neutralising venom-induced lethality in vivo. This study illustrates the exciting potential of developing new, broad-spectrum, toxin-targeting antivenoms capable of treating key snakebite pathologies, and advocates a thorough re-examination of enzyme inhibiting compounds as alternative therapies for treating snakebite victims.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6123674 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-018-0039-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
De novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom toxins.
Nature
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Snakebite envenoming remains a devastating and neglected tropical disease, claiming over 100,000 lives annually and causing severe complications and long-lasting disabilities for many more. Three-finger toxins (3FTx) are highly toxic components of elapid snake venoms that can cause diverse pathologies, including severe tissue damage and inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in life-threatening neurotoxicity. At present, the only available treatments for snakebites consist of polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of immunized animals, which have high cost and limited efficacy against 3FTxs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEducating Healthcare Workers in Snakebite Management: A Study to Determine the Effectiveness of the Snake Bite Life Support Workshop.
Toxicon
January 2025
Department of Emergency Medicine, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala.
Introduction: Snakebite envenomation is a significant global health issue, with India bearing a substantial burden. Despite the development of guidelines, knowledge gaps and lack of training persist among healthcare workers (HCWs), contributing to high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Snake Bite Life Support (SBLS) workshop on HCWs' knowledge, practices, self-efficacy, and advocacy skills in snakebite management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolomics and proteomics: synergistic tools for understanding snake venom inhibition.
Arch Toxicol
January 2025
Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
Article Synopsis
- Snake envenomation is a major global health issue, particularly in rural areas of tropical and subtropical regions, highlighting the need for better therapeutic approaches.
- Traditional antivenoms have limitations, but advancements in omics technologies like metabolomics and proteomics are improving our understanding of venom and potential treatments.
- By exploring metabolic changes and identifying venom proteins, researchers aim to develop novel inhibitors and next-generation antivenoms, ultimately leading to more effective treatments for snake bites.
Assessment of the effects of harvesting period of Clusia fluminensis Planch & Triana fruits on neutralization of the toxic activities of Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.
Chem Biodivers
January 2025
Federal Fluminense University: Universidade Federal Fluminense, Molecular and Cellular Biology, . Prof. Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis - São Domingos, Bloco M, Campus Gragoatá, 24210-201, Niteroi, BRAZIL.
Snakebite envenomation is a public health issue that can lead to mortality and physical consequences. It is estimated that 5.4 million venomous snake bites occur annually, with 130,000 deaths and 400,000 amputations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProspect of using ethnobotanicals to manage snakebites in a cost-effective manner: validating Senegalia mellifera extract's inhibitory potential on Naja nigricincta nigricincta (zebra cobra) venom.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
January 2025
Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Health, Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Private Bag 13388, 13 Jackson Kaujeua Street Windhoek, Windhoek, Namibia.
Background: Despite Naja nigricincta nigricincta being responsible for most snake envenomation in remote Namibian regions, an effective intervention against its venom remains undiscovered. This study aimed to scientifically validate Namibian folklore claims about Senegalia mellifera extract's efficacy against snake envenomation.
Methods: In vitro assays were conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of S.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!