Most antivenoms (AVs) are obtained from the immunization of a large animal (e.g. horse) with only one single venom which resulting to the specific against only a venom, namely monospecific AVs. In case of this AVs, we need to know accurate identification of the culprit snake be bitten. Thus, misdiagnosis could lead to treatment failure and wastage of the expensive AV. To solve this issue, the production of polyspecific antivenom by the immunization with a mixture of venoms from different species of snakes would be useful. Until now, the research on venoms has been continuously developed the efficiency and high dose potency AVs by combination of conventional immunology and advances technology. Therefore, proteomic approach is required for exploration of venom profiles or investigation of the neutralizing toxin by AVs. The challenge of generating effective AVs is universal AV with coverage of all type snakes in a wide geographic area and high efficiency. Furthermore, such AVs would be produced cheaply as a result of economy of scale.
Snake venoms are produced by snakes for digestion and to rapidly immobilize their prey. Venoms contain various hydrolytic enzymes and toxins e.g., neurotoxins and cytotoxins. Neurotoxic venoms are mainly produced by elapid snakes (cobra, krait, mamba) and sea snakes. These toxins cause neuromuscular blockage, leading to respiratory failure and death. Postsynaptic neurotoxins (PSNTs) from different elapids, although chemically and pharmacologically similar, are immunochemically distinct, so antivenom (AV) against venom from one elapid usually fails to neutralize venom of another elapid, even from the same genus. Thus, each country or region needs to produce its own AV, which is not economically or technically always possible. The lack of effective AVs has resulted in numerous deaths of snakebite victims. Our aim is to produce a pan–specific antivenom against venoms of Southeast Asian elapid snakes. Previously we have established an immunization protocol (WHO Guidelines, 2010), which is highly effective in producing high titer and high affinity antibody against PSNTs of various snakes. Potent polyspecific antivenom has been produced against 3 elapids from Thailand with ED50s comparable to the corresponding monospecific antivenoms. Using this immunization protocol with selected neurotoxins from various elapids, we are studying the preparation of a pan-specific antivenom against elapids of SE Asian countries. If successful, this antivenom could be produced for wide distribution and, with economy of scale, should...
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