Secretory PLA2 specific single domain antibody neutralizes Russell viper venom induced cellular and organismal toxicity

Abstract

Despite continued destruction of human lives by snakebites, appreciable improvements in immunotherapies have not been made. We selected and characterized venom-specific single domain antibodies (sdAbs) from a constructed phage display library of camelid variable region of heavy chain of the heavy chain antibodies (VHHs). Secretory phospholipase A2-specific sdAbs neutralized venom-induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Such monoclonal sdAbs could serve as an alternative to help manage snakebites to save lives.