Opossums are mostly famous for their acting when they are attacked. The fact that you don't know is that they are able to neutralize snake venoms. Intriguingly, opossums shrug off snake bite venom with no ill effects. In the early 1990s, a group of researchers identified a serum protein from the opossum that was able to neutralize snake venoms. One researcher, B. V. Lipps, Ph.D., found that a smaller chain of amino acids from the opossum protein, called a peptide, was also able to neutralize the venom.
An antidote based on a protein found in the blood of opossums could offer an effective low-cost treatment for snake bites, researchers in the US have found.
Venomous snake bites are a serious global problem, especially in developing countries. Recent estimates suggest that about 421,000 incidents occur each year worldwide, causing 20,000 deaths. However, the World Health Organization notes that these figures may be as high as 1.8 million incidents and 94,000 deaths.
Most antivenoms are made by injecting dilute venom into a mammal, such as a horse or rabbit. In studies carried out on venom-exposed mice, those that were given just the venom died within 12 hours, while those that received the same amount of venom but were treated with the opossum peptide exhibited no ill effects. ‘Basically, the venom was completely neutralized,’
Scientists are carrying out many researches about Opossums. An animal who can neutralize snake venom cool right? To find out more cool information. Check out our other Article pages.