How To Make Antivenom

TL;DR

Snake antivenom is made by extracting venom from snakes, freeze-drying it, injecting animals to produce antibodies, and purifying the antibodies into dose vials.

Transcript

Bitten by a venomous snake? Well, you probably shouldn't waste three precious minutes watching this video, but if you're going to do it anyway, I can tell you that there is hope. Some animals have a natural resistance to snake venom like the snake-eating Honey Badger which can be bitten in the face by a cobra and still not care but for people, hist... Read More

Key Insights

• 💝 Albert Calmette developed the first snake antivenom in the late 1890s using his expertise in vaccine making.
• 💦 Antivenom works by stimulating antibody production to neutralize venom toxins.
• 🐍 Snake venom is extracted by squeezing venom glands and collecting the venom in vials.
• 🏇 Animals like horses, sheep, or goats are injected with venom to produce antibodies for antivenom.
• 🩸 Antibodies can be harvested by draining blood from the animal's jugular.
• 🥺 The process to make antivenom is expensive and time-consuming, leading to global supply shortages.
• 🥶 Antivenom must be stored in cold conditions, posing challenges in developing countries with limited access to electricity.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does antivenom work in the body?

Antivenom stimulates the production of antibodies, which neutralize venom toxins by smothering them and preventing further spread.

Q: How is venom extracted from snakes?

Venom is extracted by gently squeezing and "milking" the venom glands of snakes. Multiple snakes need to be milked many times to acquire enough venom.

Q: How are antibodies produced for making antivenom?

Animals like horses, sheep, or goats are injected with small doses of venom over several weeks, allowing them to build antibodies. The antibodies are then harvested by draining blood from the animal's jugular.

Q: Why is snake antivenom expensive and in short supply?

The process to make antivenom is expensive, time-consuming, and requires scarce resources. A single vial may cost over $1500, and global supply shortages often occur.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Snake antivenom was developed by Albert Calmette in the late 1890s using his expertise in vaccine making.

• Antivenom works by stimulating the production of antibodies that neutralize venom toxins.

• The process to make antivenom involves extracting venom, freeze-drying it, injecting animals to produce antibodies, and purifying the antibodies into dose vials.