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Artificial intelligence has opened up new horizons in the development of antivenins, allowing the creation of proteins capable of neutralizing the deadly toxins of venomous snakes such as mambas and cobras faster, cheaper and more effectively.
A key breakthrough was the use of deep machine learning to predict protein folding. Using this technology, scientists from the Universities of Washington and California, in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark, developed proteins that block toxins, including the dangerous three-finger toxin (3FTx). These synthetic proteins, tested in mice, showed the ability to prevent paralysis and the lethal effects of the poisons.
Existing methods for creating antivenoms rely on animal immunization, which is a time-consuming and expensive process. In comparison, AI can significantly reduce development time and cost. In addition, the proteins created are smaller in size, which contributes to faster tissue penetration and improves their effectiveness. This paves the way for mass production of affordable antivenoms, especially for regions that suffer the most from snakebites, including Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
Snakebites affect more than 2 million people each year, killing about 100. Most victims live in poor regions where access to medical care is limited. Innovative technology could be a solution to this global problem by making high-quality antivenoms accessible to even the most vulnerable.
The new technique has potential far beyond antidotes. AI could be used to develop drugs for other ailments, especially those that affect the least-funded areas of healthcare. So, this study, published in the journal Nature, not only solves the problem of snakebites, but also offers new tools to combat numerous diseases, particularly in the most vulnerable countries in the world.
