After 856 'Snake Bites', Man's Blood Could Unlock Universal Antivenom

[Ponietz]

From the text:

This personal project could have easily earned Friede a Darwin award, or in the very least a guest appearance on Jackass. But luckily, his cells began to produce antibodies that protected him from the toxic regimen.

Friede is still alive, and his unique antibodies are actually being put to good use. His YouTube videos attracted the attention of Jacob Glanville, immunologist and CEO of biotech company Centivax.

Using Friede's hyperimmune antibodies, Glanville and a team of scientists have now created an antivenom that, in lab experiments, protected mice from the venom of 19 different snake species, all listed by the World Health Organization as category 1 and 2 of the world's deadliest snakes.

Usually, antivenom is created by collecting the antibodies produced by sheep or horses that have been repeatedly exposed to venom from just one snake species each. That's why antivenoms tend to be specific to a species and region, which, as any outdoor enthusiasts will know, makes it difficult to pack a comprehensive first aid kit. And because the antibodies aren't from humans, there's always a risk of adverse reactions.

An antivenom derived from Friede's blood, on the other hand, could protect against a range of species with fewer complications.

https://www.sciencealert.com/after-856-snake-bites-mans-blood-could-unlock-universal-antivenom]

[Ocelot II]

1. Link, please?

[Ponietz]

2. So flabbergasted I forgot to link

Thanks

[Warpy]

3. I read one of the articles and the operative words were "injected himself."

https://www.sciencealert.com/after-856-snake-bites-mans-blood-could-unlock-universal-antivenom

He most likely injected very small amounts, desensitizing himself to venoms over that 18 year self experimentation period. He might now be immune to actual snakebite after that many exposures over that long a time period.

However,, if this leads to a stable universal treatment, good for him, maybe he's not such a jackass, after all.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. They shouldn't publish this kind of stuff.

Some marginally equipped will begin collecting snakes this weekend to produce their own.

Back in the day, a hippie/naturalist told the tale of being immune to poison ivy because he collected the leaves and roots, fermented them in gin or vodka, and then drank the resulting potion. I don't know, never tried it, and caveat emptor.

[Old Crank]

5. Glad someone was willing to do it.

Glad it didn't have to be me.