Snake Venom Changes With
Age, Location
Like people with an
accent, snakes from
different regions pack
different venom. A new
study finds that
antivenoms, the drugs
created to combat snake
bites in humans, need to
take these chemical
differences into
account.
Scientists have known
for many decades that
venom of snakes of the
same species can vary
geographically, causing
snakebite victims to
suffer different
symptoms. Yet while
these differences in
symptoms had been
studied, little research
has been done on the
chemical differences in
venom within any given
species.
The new study compares
the protein chemistry of
the deadly lancehead
pitviper (Bothrops asper)
from two geographically
isolated populations
from the Caribbean and
Pacific regions of Costa
Rica. The researchers
also analyzed venom from
adult and newborn
snakes.
The researchers "found
major differences in the
venoms collected from
the two regions," they
report in the August
issue of the Journal of
Proteome Research.
They also found distinct
differences in proteins
of venom collected from
newborns and adult
snakes, "indicating that
the requirement for the
venom to immobilize prey
and initiate digestion
may change with the size
(age) of the snake."
Snake-bite antivenoms
(sometimes called
antivenins) are often
expensive, available
only at select
hospitals, and don't
always work.
The study, funded by the
University of Costa Rica
and the Spanish Ministry
of Education, suggests
that venom should be
mixed with geographical
and age distribution of
the snakes in mind when
creating antivenin, the
authors conclude. |
