Exploring Bitis arietans venom toxins for antibody development in supportive therapy against African snakebite envenomation 9217

Description Snakebite envenomation represents a major public health issue globally, with a pronounced impact in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. These regions experience high morbidity and mortality rates from venomous snakebites, with sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and Latin America being particularly affected. I Africa alone, annual deaths from snakebites range from 3,500 to 32,000, and the difficulty in treating envenomation leads to high rates of disease and disability. This study aims to isolate and identify peptides from Bitis arietans venom, and to produce and characterize polyclonal antibodies targeting these toxins. Antibodies from different mouse strains was evaluated and compared for progression and efficacy, shedding light on their therapeutic potential. The toxins were obtained through different venom fractionation methods, with the resulting fractions showing a high presence of proteases, especially metalloproteases and serine proteases. Selected fractions were used to immunize animals, and antibody production was quantified through enzymatic assays and immunoblot, confirming anti-toxin antibodies. The isolation and characterization of these toxins are crucial steps for developing alternative treatments. These results improve understanding of envenomation mechanisms and support research on new complementary therapies.. Funding Sources CAPES – Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel Foundation FAPESP – São Paulo Research Foundation. Topic Categories Vaccines and Immunotherapy (VAC)