Antibody discovery and development against non-immunogenic snake venom toxins

This project aims to reduce global levels of morbidity and mortality from snakebite envenoming by discovering and developing antibodies that can neutralise the low molecular weight snake venom toxins, which are key contributors to the disease. These non-immunogenic toxins are poorly neutralised by currently available antivenoms, produced by animal derived immunisations. The project will discover neutralising antibodies through immunisation experiments, using rationally designed immunogens, and select for high-affinity antibodies via synthetic libraries using recombinant toxins.