The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is a deadly venomous snake native to Africa. Its chunk is considered one of a number of that could possibly be handled with a brand new common antivenom… developed from a human named Tim Friede.
Michele D’Amico/Getty Photographs
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Michele D’Amico/Getty Photographs
The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is a deadly venomous snake native to Africa. Its chunk is considered one of a number of that could possibly be handled with a brand new common antivenom… developed from a human named Tim Friede.
Michele D’Amico/Getty Photographs
What’s it wish to get bit by a venomous snake?
“It is like a bee sting occasions a thousand,” Tim Friede says.
Friede would know. Over the previous few many years, he is let himself be bitten over 200 occasions, by every kind of venomous snakes — black mambas, taipans, cobras, kraits, and extra. He calls it his “declare to fame.”
The bites have despatched him to the ICU, put him into comas and extra. However with time, he is progressively constructed up an immunity to a number of varieties of venom.
That made him marvel: May this pastime of his be used for public good? If he survived all these toxins, might scientists share his immunity with different folks, too?
The World Well being Group estimates that yearly, between one and three million persons are bitten by venomous snakes. Of these folks, tens of 1000’s die; 1000’s extra are completely disabled.
Prime quality antivenoms are thought-about the simplest therapy for envenomation. These current antivenoms often come from home animals, like horses, which have been injected with small quantities of a selected venom to provide antibodies that establish and neutralize its toxins.
Researchers who studied Friede’s blood hope to synthesize a therapy that could possibly be used for a number of completely different sorts of venomous snake bites — a common antivenom.
Wish to hear about extra medical discoveries? E mail us at shortwave@nprg.org to inform us what areas of science you would be considering.
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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn and edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the info. Jimmy Keeley was the audio engineer. Particular because of Johannes Doerge.
