- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- IISc and DTU developed nanobody antivenom for cobra, king cobra.
- Cocktail-protected mice reversed paralysis from venom exposure.
- Offers targeted, broader protection than conventional antivenoms.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), have developed a recombinant nanobody-based antivenom that offers broad protection against venom from several cobra and king cobra species found in India.
The antibody cocktail, consisting of five engineered antibody fragments called nanobodies, showed promising results in mouse experiments. Researchers found that it not only prevented death but also reversed paralysis and other neurotoxic symptoms when administered up to 30 minutes after venom exposure.
A New Approach to Cobra Venom Treatment
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, focuses on developing an alternative to conventional animal-derived antivenoms. Current antivenoms are generally produced by repeatedly immunising animals such as horses with snake venom and collecting the antibodies generated in their blood.
According to the researchers, conventional antivenoms can have limitations, including variability, side effects, high production costs and restricted protection against different snake species. Since snake venoms contain different combinations of toxins, developing treatments with wider coverage remains challenging.
Five Nanobodies Show Broad Protection
Kartik Sunagar, Associate Professor at IISc's Centre for Ecological Sciences, collaborated with Andreas Laustsen, Professor at DTU, on the research. The team studied antibodies capable of recognising toxins produced by different cobra species.
The researchers isolated five antibody fragments, known as nanobodies, that could bind to venom toxins. The cocktail was designed to prevent these toxins from attaching to their target receptors and triggering their harmful effects.
In experiments, the antibody combination protected mice against venom from spectacled cobras, monocled cobras and Indian king cobra species. Importantly, the treatment also showed therapeutic potential after envenomation had already occurred.
Potential for Next-Generation Antivenoms
The researchers reported that mice showing paralysis and other typical neurotoxic symptoms could return to an asymptomatic state after receiving the antibody cocktail. The findings suggest that recombinant antibodies could eventually provide a more targeted approach to treating snakebite.
Unlike conventional antivenoms, recombinant antibodies can potentially be produced using microbial and humanised expression systems without repeatedly immunising horses. Researchers also said additional antibody components could be incorporated to extend protection against other medically important snakes.
The team believes this approach could eventually help create region-specific recombinant antivenoms with broader coverage, offering a potential new direction in the treatment of snakebite, a major public-health challenge in India and other parts of the world.