AI helped create an antidote for venomous snake bites
According to the World Health Organization, more than two million people are affected by snake bites every year, of whom around 100,000 die and 300,000 are left with disabilities. This problem is especially acute in low-income countries, where access to quality antivenoms is limited.
Snake photo generated with the Recraft v3 neural network in GPTunneL
Traditional antivenoms, based on antibodies obtained from animals, have a number of drawbacks: high cost, the need for cold storage, and the risk of side effects such as anaphylaxis. In addition, they are often ineffective against neurotoxins and other complex venom components.
But science doesn't stand still. Researchers at the University of Washington used artificial intelligence to create synthetic proteins that neutralize dangerous toxins, such as the neurotoxins and cytotoxins found in snake venom.
These proteins don't require animals for their production, are highly stable, and can be manufactured at minimal cost.
Experiments showed that the new proteins effectively block the action of toxins both in the lab and in animal tests. For instance, one of the proteins developed fully protected mice from a lethal dose of venom, even when it was administered 15 minutes after the bite.
The work was published in Nature and has already drawn the attention of the medical community. The technology developed opens up new possibilities for creating antidotes against other dangerous toxins.