antivenom

8 Stories

Discovery May Change Treatment of Snake Bites
Discovery May Change
Treatment of Snake Bites
new study

Discovery May Change Treatment of Snake Bites

Research raises hope of a universal antivenom

(Newser) - Scientists from Scripps Research have developed a synthetic antibody that's effective against the lethal venom of four separate snake species. This discovery could be a game-changer in creating a universal antivenom for hundreds of deadly snakes, Science.org , reports, which typically require separate antivenoms manufactured for each type of...

'Hercules' Is Bigger Than a Baseball, Will Try to Kill You

Biggest male specimen of world's most venomous spider found in Australia

(Newser) - Wildlife experts Down Under are likely thrilled at their latest acquisition from a scientific standpoint, but mostly everyone else is keeping a healthy distance. The Australian Reptile Park in Somersby now has among its ranks the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous arachnid , a Sydney funnel-web spider...

Massive Killer Spider Found in Australia Could Save Lives

Australian Reptile Park plans to milk the 'megaspider' to make antivenom

(Newser) - If you happen to have handed over a massive spider with fangs almost an inch long to an anti-venom program in Australia, the Australian Reptile Park wants to hear from you. The park says the funnel-web spider, nicknamed "megaspider," is the largest arachnid of this kind that the...

His Pet Cobra Bit Him. Then, the Scramble for Antivenom Began

Generic antivenom initially given to victim didn't work

(Newser) - A Michigan man's pet cobra bit him earlier this month, setting off a multistate hunt for the specific type of antivenom needed to save the man. The 26-year-old started vomiting about 20 minutes after being bit by the albino monocled cobra July 14; their venom is one of the...

Boy Survives Spider Bite With Record Dose of Antivenom

The spider is now helping to replenish stocks

(Newser) - A 10-year-old boy in Australia survived a bite from one of the world's deadliest spiders thanks to a quick-thinking dad—and a record-breaking amount of antivenom. Matthew Mitchell was working with his father in a shed at their home around 60 miles north of Sydney when he was bitten...

Bit by a Snake? An Opossum Could Save You

Peptide from opossum protein protects mice from snakebites

(Newser) - For 75 years, researchers have known that opossums aren't fazed by poisonous snakes that can kill humans with a single strike. For about 25 years, they've known that a serum protein is responsible for that immunity. Now scientists have harnessed that protein and hope to save some of...

To Save Troops From Deadly Snakes, US Relies on ... Iran

Despite sanctions, we buy antivenin through middleman

(Newser) - The US leads the charge when it comes to economic sanctions against Iran—but when American soldiers' health is at stake, the military is willing to do a little business with the Islamic republic. Iran produces antivenin against the poisonous snakes of Afghanistan; our own antivenins are toothless against such...

Stung by a Scorpion? Mexico Will Save You

Despite 250 stings a year, US drug companies won't make anti-venom

(Newser) - With the United States having run out of scorpion anti-venom nearly 10 years ago, the FDA has just approved a Mexican-made treatment for scorpion stings, reports NPR . Although there are about 250 severe scorpion stings a year in the United States—mainly in the "Venom Belt" in the southwest—...

8 Stories