How just drops of viper venom pack a deadly punch. Researchers at a large producer of antivenoms report a structural analysis of glycans modifying venom proteins in several species of lancehead viper. The snakes are among the most dangerous in South America. The report offers insight into the solubility and stability of toxic proteins from venom, and into how venoms from different species vary. Scientists are now working to map glycan structures back onto the proteins they modify. Source 1s.
Novel way to treat snakebite. Scientists demonstrate a completely new way of treating snakebites. The team have shown that the repurposing of an existing medicine, commonly used to treat mercury poisoning, is an effective oral therapy for the treatment of certain hemotoxic snakebites. Source 5q.