Venomous snakebites are a major and overlooked global health problem, especially in low-income countries. Traditional antivenoms can be effective, but they do not cover all medically relevant snake species, do not always neutralize the complex mixture of toxins in the venom, and can trigger immune reactions. In addition, traditional antivenoms often contain many antibodies that do not contribute to recovery.
Andreas Hougaard Laustsen-Kiel has devoted much of his research career to studying snake venom, developing snake antivenom, and creating a diagnostic kit to identify which snake has bitten.
In this doctoral thesis, he presents a systematic approach to developing the next generation of antivenoms. The approach combines detailed analysis of snake venom with laboratory-produced toxins and engineering-based design of antibodies that can neutralize the toxins.
Among the key results are the discovery of broad-spectrum human antibodies that resemble the body's own and can act against many types of snake venom, as well as nanobodies, which are both smaller and more stable than ordinary antibodies. The antibodies have been identified using so called phage display technology, which makes it possible to systematically select particularly effective antibodies for further production. Based on these findings, the work has led to the development and validation of antibody mixtures with a few carefully selected antibodies that can effectively neutralize snake venom from 17 different snake species.
The work integrates scientific, technological, and manufacturing principles to enable systematic development of safe, cost-effective antivenoms with higher clinical relevance and global application.
