Sophion-snake-venom-toxins

New research in snake venom toxins offers hope for snakebite victims

A collaborative study, published this week in Nature, reveals a transformative approach to combating snakebite envenoming. This neglected tropical disease claims over 100,000 lives annually and causes severe complications and long-lasting disabilities for many more. Researchers from the University of Washington, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Sophion Bioscience’s Dr. Kim Boddum have developed de novo designed proteins to neutralize lethal snake venom toxins using Nobel Laureate David Baker’s groundbreaking AI techniques.

De novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom

These designer proteins, tailored to neutralize lethal three-finger toxins in snake venom, demonstrated exceptional stability, binding affinity and efficacy in preclinical trials. The research utilized Sophion’s Qube automated patch clamp technology to validate functional neutralization, underscoring the precision and potential of these proteins.

"By harnessing AI, we developed and validated de novo proteins to neutralize lethal snake venom, paving the way for scalable treatments to combat snakebite"

— Dr. Kim Boddum, Senior Research Scientist, Sophion Bioscience

This innovative work exemplifies the power of international collaboration and cutting-edge tools in addressing critical public health challenges. Beyond snakebite, the methodology promises to democratize therapeutic discovery for other neglected diseases.

Read paper here

To listen to lead author Dr. Susana Vázquez Torres discussing this work on the Nature podcast, click here

To read more about AI/machine learning applications in ion channel research, click here