American scientists open the way to universal antivenom thanks to Tim, the Wisconsin mechanic bitten hundreds of times by venomous snakes
Scientists have created a new antivenom that uses antibodies developed by a man who exposed himself to snake poison for years.
A team of scientists says it has produced the world’s “most broadly effective” antivenom against poisonous snake bites, having harnessed antibodies developed by a Wisconsin man who exposed himself to venom over a years-long period.
“Unique immune history”
Led by the immunologist Jacob Glanville, who is the CEO of the San Francisco-based therapuetics company Centivax, the researchers published their findings this week in the scientific journal Cell.
In a press release, the scientists explain that their anti-venom was developed in a study that revolved around blood donations provided by Tim Friede, a former truck mechanic described by Centivax as an “autodidact herpetologist and venom expert”.
According to Glanville, Friede boasts a “once-in-a-lifetime unique immune history”.
“The donor, for a period of nearly 18 years, had undertaken hundreds of bites and self-immunizations with escalating doses from 16 species of very lethal snakes that would normally a kill a horse,” Glanville revealed.
In an interview with the media outlet CNN, Glanville cautioned: “We strongly discourage anyone from trying to do what Tim did. Snake venom is dangerous.”
What does the new antivenom contain?
Using samples of Friede’s blood, the team of researchers created what they describe as an “antivenom cocktail”, by mixing antibodies developed by the donor with a toxin inhibitor known as varespladib.
In mouse trials, the antivenom proved effective against snakes such as the black mamba, king cobra and tiger snakes, Glanville’s team says.
What’s next for the antivenom?
The researchers now aim to test it out on dogs treated for snake bites in Australian veterinary clinics, and are also targeting the development of an antivenom that’s effective against the viper family of snakes.
Per the scientists’ Cell paper, snake bites worldwide currently cause more than 100,000 fatalities and 300,000 permanent disabilities in humans each year.
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