Every five minutes, fifty people are bitten by a snake worldwide – of whom, four will be permanently disabled and one will die. In fact, snake envenomation is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that requires urgent attention. However, we are currently lacking robust, low-cost point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics to combat snake envenomation. Current research has focused on antibody-based solutions, both in diagnostics and treatments. Antibodies are archetypal biologics, with a projected market value of ~$400 billion USD by 2028. However, they suffer from severe disadvantages, such as high cost, low stability, and complicated manufacture, excluding millions from equitable healthcare. To overcome these limitations, this project will pioneer approaches bringing together in vitro synthetic chemistry and in silico machine learning (ML) methodologies for the discovery of novel cell-free biomimetics, using snake venom toxins to establish this technology.

This project is a collaboration with Prof. Sosso

Glycan-protein interactions are fundamental in biology: however, they are difficult to dissect, requiring centralised high-resolution spectroscopy/spectrometry or arrays with labelled (non-native) protein probes. This is exemplified by understudied snake venoms, which are known to contain glycan binding proteins (lectins), in potentially more than 200 species. The role of these lectins is not understood, and their biotechnology potential not deployed.

This project will develop unique glycan probes which can be used with native and un-purified snake venom to identify new lectins, decode their binding capability, and produce a new generation of rapid medical diagnostics for snake envenomation as a neglected tropical disease. There is a pressing need for this research and technology with WHO estimating that snake envenomation (bites) cause ~100,000 deaths a year and approximately three times as many amputations and permanent disabilities.

This project is in collaboration with Prof. Becer

Email Dr Baker to discuss joining the group

Email Dr Baker to discuss joining the group