He injects venom like others would have their morning coffee. For more than 20 years, Tim Friede, an American passionate about snakes, has challenged probabilities by surviving hundreds of bites. But behind this extreme behavior hides an unexpected scientific advance today: his organization has inspired a team of researchers in the development of a potentially universal antivenincapable of neutralizing the neurotoxins of many different snakes.
This project, born from the unlikely meeting between an self -taught amateur and experienced immunologists, could revolutionize emergency care in the regions most affected by the bites. Each year, more than 100,000 people die from it, mainly in rural areas poorly served by current treatments.
An outdated antivenin production, and the meeting that changed everything
The traditional antivenin works by injecting horses or sheep of small doses of venom, before purifying antibodies produced by their immune system. But this process, more than a century old, is expensive, slow, and above all, specific to each species. However, in many regions of the world, the rapid identification of the responsible snake is impossible.
This is where Tim Friede entered. His obsession with snakes and his extraordinary resistance intrigued the immunologist Jacob Glanvillewho describes him as “a super immune”. “”The donor, for almost 18 years, had undergone hundreds of bites and had been self-immunized with increasing doses of 16 species of very deadly snakes which would normally kill a horse “explains Jacob Glanville. Together, they wanted to transform this biological particularity into therapeutic solution. The Centivax laboratory, led by Glanville, has teamed up with Peter Kwongfrom the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, specialist in interactions between viral proteins and antibodies.
“”The most remarkable thing is that these antibodies target the parts of the neurotoxins which are the most essential for their operation. This means that these antibodies can work against many types of different neurotoxins “explain Peter Kwongemphasizing the universality of the discovered mechanism.
Concrete hope validated in the laboratory
The team analyzed the antibodies present in Tim Friede’s blood and combined them with others, from the human immune response.
The team developed a mixture made up of three main elements: two antibodies extracted from the donor and a small molecule. The first antibody, named LNX-D09, has protected mice against a lethal dose of venom from six species of snakes included in the study. To strengthen the efficiency of anti -ererum, the researchers incorporated the Varespladib molecule, a well -known toxins inhibitor, thus offering additional protection against three other species. Finally, a second donor’s antibody, called SNX-B03, was added to extend protection to all the species studied (19 snakes among the most deadly in the family of enlisters, classified by the World Health Organization as being of category 1 and 2.. This group brings together about half of the poisonous species, including coral snakes, Mambas, Cobras Kraits).
© Glanville et al. / Cell
Protection against snake venom by a cocktail of Varespladib and largely neutralizing human antibodies
These neurotoxins, responsible for rapid and often fatal paralysis, are among the most feared. However, the antibodies developed have demonstrated a Impressive inhibition capacityvalidated during in vitro and in vivo tests on murine models. “”By combining the three components, we had total and unprecedented protection for 13 of the 19 species studied, then partial protection for others “explains Glanville.
As emphasizes Jacob Glanville“This is the first time that antibodies have been identified that have been linked to as much neurotoxins from very different species “.
On the track of a universal antidote
The antivenimous cocktail having proven its effectiveness on murine models, the team now seeks to test its effectiveness in the field, starting by administering the antivenin to dogs admitted to Australian veterinary clinics for snake bites. She also wishes to develop an antivenin targeting the other large family of snakes, vipers.
The final objective is ambitious: producing a stable, economical, and effective antivenin against a wide range of venomsusable as first intention in hospitals and dispensaries of highly affected countries. The challenge is not only scientific: it is also logistical, regulatory and financial. But researchers are optimistic. Thanks to the engineering of monoclonal antibodies, already used to treat certain viral diseases, the idea of ready -to -use, storable and easily administration treatment becomes tangible. “”The final product envisaged would be a unique antivenime cocktail, even two: one for enlisters and another for viperidae, because certain regions of the world only have one or the other“specifies Peter Kwong.
“”This could make the antivenin much safer, more economical, and more widely available “assured Jacob Glanvilleevoking a future large -scale production. If clinical approval will take time, the hope of a universal antiveninfrom the blood of an enthusiast ready to risk his life, is now very real.