A recent study from the University of Reading and the Technical University of Denmark has discovered that the same technology employed by COVID-19 vaccines could be used to prevent muscle damage from snakebites. If commercialized, the treatment could significantly limit the injury and impacts caused by snakebites which are responsible for nearly 140,000 deaths worldwide each year.
The study, which focused on the Bothrops asper snake, uses specific mRNA molecules wrapped in tiny fat particles that when injected, prevent venom damage by teaching cells to product antibodies.
"For the first time, we've shown that mRNA technology can protect muscle tissue from snake venom-induced damage. This opens a completely new door for treating snakebites, particularly the local injuries that current antivenoms struggle to prevent," said Professor Sakthi Vaiyapuri, lead author of the study from the University of Reading.
"We tested this treatment on snake venom, but this technology could be even more useful for other conditions where toxins cause harm gradually. For example, it might help block harmful toxins produced by bacteria during infections," added Professor Andreas Laustsen, who co-led this study from the Technical University of Denmark.
More work will be required before the tech can be deployed to help patients. Currently, the antibodies take hours to develop, and the treatment can only target one toxin. Future iterations will need to target multiple toxins, and potential storage conditions will need to be evaluated to accommodate remote areas lacking refrigeration.
"We now need to expand this approach to target multiple venom toxins and solve storage challenges for rural areas, as well as ensure faster production of antibodies in tissues. The potential to reduce disabilities among snakebite victims is significant," Vaiyapuri concluded.