Production of potent polyvalent antivenom against three elapid venoms using a low dose, low volume, multi-site immunization protocol.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to prepare a potent polyvalent antivenom against three elapids namely, the Thai cobra (Naja kaouthia, NK), the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah, OH) and the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus, BF). Two groups of horses were immunized. Group 1, comprising five horses, was immunized twice with a mixture of postsynaptic neurotoxins followed by an additional six immunizations with a mixture of crude venoms of the three elapids. Group 2, comprising four horses, was immunized with a mixture of crude venoms throughout the course. For the first immunization, the immunogens were emulsified in Complete Freund's adjuvant and injected using a low dose, low volume multi-site immunization protocol previously developed in this laboratory (Pratanaphon, R., Akesowan, S., Khow, O., Sriprapat, S. and Ratanabanangkoon, K. (1997) Production of highly potent horse antivenom against the Thai cobra (Naja kaouthia). Vaccine 15, 1523-1528). The second immunization was carried out with the immunogens in Incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Blood was drawn to assay the antibody titer by ELISA. Sera at the peak of ELISA titers were pooled and assayed for the median effective dose (ED(50)). The ED(50)'s of antivenom from Group 1 horses against NK, OH and BF venoms were 1.44, 0.22 and 0.23 ml serum/mg venom, respectively, while those from Group 2 horse sera were 0.88, 0.20 and 0.49 ml serum/mg venom, respectively. The potency of sera from Group 2 against BF venom was significantly higher, while the potencies against NK and OH venoms were comparable to those of the corresponding monovalent antivenoms produced under the same protocol. This potent, truly polyvalent antivenom should be useful in saving lives of victims envenomed by these elapids and the immunization protocol should be useful in the production of potent polyvalent antivenoms against other medically important elapids.
Publication Date: 2001-08-02 PubMed ID: 11478956DOI: 10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00108-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research focused on creating a strong antivenom against the venoms of three types of snakes – Thai cobra, King cobra, and the banded krait. The study utilized a low dose, multi-site immunization experiment and revealed that it’s possible to produce highly effective antivenoms using this method that can significantly aid in survival of those bitten by these snake species.
About the Study
- The study aimed at preparing a highly effective antivenom against three types of snakes – Thai cobra, King cobra, and the banded krait.
- Two groups of horses were involved in the immunization trials. Group 1 consisted of five horses that were immunized twice with a blend of postsynaptic neurotoxins followed by additional six immunizations with a mixture of crude venoms of the three snakes. Group 2 on the other hand had four horses that were immunized with a blend of crude venoms throughout the study.
- The first immunization used immunogens mixed in Complete Freund’s adjuvant and was injected using a developed low dose, low volume, multi-site immunization process.
- The second immunization utilized immunogens in Incomplete Freund’s adjuvant.
- Blood was then drawn to measure the antibody titer with ELISA. The peak ELISA titers were pooled together and their median effective dose (ED50) was determined.
Findings of the Study
- The study showed that the ED50’s of antivenom from Group 1 horses against the venoms of Thai cobra, King cobra, and the banded krait were 1.44, 0.22 and 0.23 ml serum/mg venom, respectively. Meanwhile, Group 2 horse sera had ED50 of 0.88, 0.20 and 0.49 ml serum/mg venom, respectively.
- The potency of sera from Group 2 against banded krait venom was significantly higher, while the potencies against Thai and King cobra venoms were comparable to the potencies of corresponding monovalent antivenoms that were also created under the same immunization protocol.
- The study indicates the potential to save lives of victims bitten by these snakes with the creation of a truly potent polyvalent antivenom.
- This protocol also indicates potential in producing potent polyvalent antivenoms against other medically important snake species.
Cite This Article
APA
Chotwiwatthanakun C, Pratanaphon R, Akesowan S, Sriprapat S, Ratanabanangkoon K.
(2001).
Production of potent polyvalent antivenom against three elapid venoms using a low dose, low volume, multi-site immunization protocol.
Toxicon, 39(10), 1487-1494.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00108-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, 10400, Bangkok, Thailand.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies / blood
- Antivenins / administration & dosage
- Antivenins / biosynthesis
- Antivenins / immunology
- Antivenins / pharmacology
- Elapid Venoms / administration & dosage
- Elapid Venoms / antagonists & inhibitors
- Elapid Venoms / immunology
- Elapid Venoms / isolation & purification
- Elapid Venoms / toxicity
- Elapidae
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Freund's Adjuvant / immunology
- Horses
- Immunization
- Lethal Dose 50
- Mice
- Neurotoxins / chemical synthesis
- Neurotoxins / immunology
- Neurotoxins / isolation & purification
- Neurotoxins / toxicity
- Neutralization Tests
- Snake Bites / immunology
- Time Factors
Citations
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