A new study has uncoded the mysteries of how the venom of Pope’s pit viper, a snake species native to northern and northeastern parts of India, works.
Key Highlights
- The study can help establish the foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced antivenom compositions.
- The “Big Four” venomous snakes—Russell’s Viper, Saw-Scaled Viper, Spectacled Cobra, and Common Krait—have undergone considerable research, but venom composition of Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum), an arboreal, nocturnal serpent indigenous to the dense forests of Northeast India, remains unexamined.
- The absence of species-specific antivenoms complicates the treatment of snakebites in India. Commercial antivenoms counteract the venom of the “Big Four” species, hence leaving patients bitten by pit vipers vulnerable to repercussions.
- This study underscores the necessity for broad-spectrum or region-specific antivenoms to counteract T. popeiorum venom.
- As India endeavours to decrease snakebite mortality by 50% by 2030, such innovative research would facilitate transforming venom studies into life-saving medical treatments.
(Source: PIB)
