"Unveiling the Dual Nature of Antibodies in Snake Venom Research"

Researchers at DTU discovered that an antibody, previously considered a promising antidote to snake venom, unexpectedly enhanced the venom's toxicity in certain testing conditions, shedding light on a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement of toxicity (ADET). This finding has significant implications for the development of broad-spectrum antivenoms and could potentially expedite the process of creating effective treatments for snakebites, which claim the lives of over 100,000 people annually. The study, published in Nature Communications, marks the first observation of ADET in connection with animal venoms and underscores the complexity of antibody behavior in combating toxins.