A team of researchers from the United States and Australia has developed a universal antivenom that protects against the bites of 19 of the most dangerous snakes in the elapid family, including the black mamba, the king cobra, tiger snakes, and coral snakes.
A key element of the work was the antibodies of an American man, Tim Friede, who for more than 18 years deliberately subjected himself to snake bites in order to build up immunity. Using his antibodies and a toxin inhibitor, the researchers created a cocktail of three substances that successfully neutralized the venom in experiments on mice.
The novelty of the current development is that it is universal—one treatment for multiple types of venoms. It is also based on human antibodies rather than horse-derived ones, as is typical for traditional antivenoms, which may significantly reduce the risk of allergic reactions. The researchers say it could become essential in regions with limited access to medical care.
And you don’t necessarily have to know the snake that bit you “in the face” to receive treatment!
