IMMUNE RESPONSE INDUCED BY NEW ADJUVANT STRATEGY TO PRODUCE CROTALICANTIVENOM

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXVI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología (SAI); 2018

Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología

Snake envenomation is a serious medical problem in tropical developing countries and antivenoms are the main treatment. The venom of the South AmericanRattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus (C.d.t.), is a complex mixture of toxins(1). Despite advances in pharmacology and therapeutics in different areas ofmedicine, serotherapy remains the treatment of choice for snakebite envenoming(2). Currently there are different types of antivenom, but essentially they areimmunoglobulins concentrates (or antibodies fragments) obtained from producing animals with efficient neutralizing capacity of the venom toxic effects. Antivenomproduction plans are focused on the adaptive immune system stimulation(3). Antisera are produced by immunization of horses with snake venom using completeand incomplete (booster) Freund?s adjuvant but it causes severe local reactions(4). A new adjuvant strategy is required to increase efficiency in antisera productionunder much less morbility to immunized animals.