Ayesiga Innocent, Okoro Lenz N, Taremba Chirigo, Yeboah Michael O, Naab Justine T M, Anyango Ruphline M, Adekeye John, Kahwa Ivan
Department of Research, Ubora Foundation Africa, Kampala 759125, Uganda.
Department of Community Medicine, David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi State 480101, Nigeria.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2025 Apr 1;119(4):400-406. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trae070.
Snake venom, a complex mixture of proteins, has attracted human attention for centuries due to its associated mortality, morbidity and other therapeutic properties. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where snakebites pose a significant health risk, understanding the genetic variability of snake venoms is crucial for developing effective antivenoms. The wide geographic distribution of venomous snake species in SSA countries demonstrates the need to develop specific and broad antivenoms. However, the development of broad antivenoms has been hindered by different factors, such as antivenom cross-reactivity and polygenic paratopes. While specific antivenoms have been hindered by the numerous snake species across the SSA region, current antivenoms, such as SAIMR polyvalent and Premium Serums & Vaccines, exhibit varying degrees of cross-reactivity. Such ability to cross-react enables the antivenoms to target multiple components from the different snake species. The advent of biotechnological innovations, including recombinant antibodies, small-molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies and synthetic antivenoms, presents options for eliminating limitations associated with traditional plasma-derived antivenoms. However, challenges still persist, especially in SSA, in addressing genetic variability, as evidenced by inadequate testing capacity and limited genomic research facilities. This comprehensive review explores the genetic variability of snake venoms in SSA, emphasizing the venom composition of various snake species and their interactions. This information is critical in developing multiple strategies during antivenom development. Finally, it offers information concerning the need for extensive collaborative engagements, technological advancements and comprehensive genomic evaluations to produce targeted and effective antivenoms.
蛇毒是一种复杂的蛋白质混合物，由于其相关的死亡率、发病率和其他治疗特性，几个世纪以来一直吸引着人类的关注。在撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA），蛇咬伤构成重大健康风险，了解蛇毒的遗传变异性对于开发有效的抗蛇毒血清至关重要。SSA国家有毒蛇类的广泛地理分布表明需要开发特异性和广谱抗蛇毒血清。然而，广谱抗蛇毒血清的开发受到不同因素的阻碍，如抗蛇毒血清交叉反应性和多基因互补位。虽然特异性抗蛇毒血清受到SSA地区众多蛇种的阻碍，但目前的抗蛇毒血清，如SAIMR多价血清和优质血清与疫苗，表现出不同程度的交叉反应性。这种交叉反应能力使抗蛇毒血清能够靶向不同蛇种的多种成分。生物技术创新的出现，包括重组抗体、小分子药物、单克隆抗体和合成抗蛇毒血清，为消除与传统血浆来源抗蛇毒血清相关的局限性提供了选择。然而，挑战仍然存在，特别是在SSA，在应对遗传变异性方面，检测能力不足和基因组研究设施有限就是证明。这篇综述探讨了SSA蛇毒的遗传变异性，强调了各种蛇种的毒液组成及其相互作用。这些信息对于抗蛇毒血清开发过程中制定多种策略至关重要。最后，它提供了有关需要广泛的合作参与、技术进步和全面的基因组评估以生产有针对性和有效的抗蛇毒血清的信息。
