Engineering venom's toxin-neutralizing antibody fragments and its therapeutic potential

Toxins (Basel). 2014 Aug 21;6(8):2541-67. doi: 10.3390/toxins6082541.

Abstract

Serum therapy remains the only specific treatment against envenoming, but anti-venoms are still prepared by fragmentation of polyclonal antibodies isolated from hyper-immunized horse serum. Most of these anti-venoms are considered to be efficient, but their production is tedious, and their use may be associated with adverse effects. Recombinant antibodies and smaller functional units are now emerging as credible alternatives and constitute a source of still unexploited biomolecules capable of neutralizing venoms. This review will be a walk through the technologies that have recently been applied leading to novel antibody formats with better properties in terms of homogeneity, specific activity and possible safety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing* / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing* / therapeutic use
  • Antivenins* / immunology
  • Antivenins* / therapeutic use
  • Bites and Stings / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Venoms / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antivenins
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Venoms