Nanobodies from alpacas and llamas could hold the key to a universal antivenom

A novel cocktail of synthetic proteins, inspired by the unique antibodies of alpacas and llamas, can neutralise toxins from some of Africa’s most dangerous snakes. The work raises hopes for a universal, low-cost antivenom that could protect against the hundreds of venomous species.

Snakes are responsible for killing over 100,000 people each year worldwide, with many more suffering permanent disabilities. Their venoms are a complex mixture of many compounds targeting nerve cells, blood clotting or tissues. ‘Snakes have different venoms and within one venom you have something like 80 different toxins,’ explains toxinologist Andreas Laustsen-Kiel of the Technical University of Denmark, who led the work. Snakebite is now classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease, with the greatest burden falling on rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia.