A polygeneric immunogen composed of 22 venoms from sub-Saharan African snakes to expand the neutralization scope of the EchiTAb-plus-ICP antivenom.

ABSTRACT: Recent research suggests that a polygeneric immunogen made from the venoms of the most medically important viperid and elapid snakes in sub-Saharan Africa could elicit a broader antibody response in horses compared to the current EchiTAb-plus-ICP antivenom, especially against neurotoxic elapid venoms. To test this, 25 horses that have been regularly immunized to produce this antivenom were reimmunized with an immunogen containing 22 venoms from various snake species from the genera Bitis, Echis, Dendroaspis, and both spitting and non-spitting Naja. The plasma collected from these horses was processed using the caprylic acid method to produce an industrial-scale freeze-dried antivenom. The anti-lethal neutralization scope of this new formulation was then compared

SUBMITTER: Sanchez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11617979 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature