Objective
* To investigate and improve therapy of bites and stings in different areas of Brazil and Ecuador by clinical testing of antivenoms.
* To investigate the extent of the problem of bites and stings in the above areas.
* To investigate the efficacy of plant extracts as possible alternatives to conventional antivenoms.
* To develop enzymes immunoassay as a tool for epidemiological studies, rapid immunodiagnosis and for studying the kinetics of envenoming and therapy.
Expected Outcome
* The optimum antivenoms and antivenom doses will be determined following preclinical tests and possibly clinical trials for use in central and Amazonian Brazil and Amazonian Ecuador.
* Epidemiological studies will result in clarification of the extent of the health problems caused by bites and stings in Brazil and Ecuador.
* The purification and testing of venom components will help in the possible development of novel drugs.
Activities carried out are:
* Preclinical experimental assessment of antivenoms before clinical studies (Liverpool).
* Randomized clinical trials of antivenoms using clinical and laboratory methods (Belem, Uberlandia, Sao Paulo-Brazil, Shell Pastaza-Ecuador, Oxford-UK).
* Laboratory tests on the pathological effects of venoms.
* Isolation, purification and study of venom components.
* Taxonomic evaluation of medically-important snake species and associated study of venoms from these (Sao Paulo-Brazil, Bangor-UK).
* Epidemiological survey studies in Amazonian Ecuador and Brazil to establish the true extent of bites and stings in these areas (Sao Paulo and Belem-Brazil, Pastaza, Shell-Ecuador).
* Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is being used as a tool for examining the kinetics of envenoming and therapy (Liverpool, Paris).
* Isolates from various plants are being prepared in Hannover and tested for antivenom activity in Liverpool.
* Affinity purification of specific venom antigens is being used to increase the specificity and decrease the time taken for immunodiagnosis (Liverpool, Paris)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
L3 5QA Liverpool
United Kingdom