However, remarkably little is known of the immunogenicity of snake venom toxins. Improved understanding of antigen presenting cell function may assist in targeting the important venom antigens to optimal immunological pathways for the highest quality of antibody response. It may also assist the development of desensitising therapy for herpetologists, many of whom suffer from potentially lethal allergy to snakes and their venom. Human antibody based antivenoms would seem ideal to reduce adverse reactions and the theoretical risk of animal diseases. However it should be noted that current human Ig preparations can occasionally cause significant adverse reactions.
Further research is required.
A collaboration between Cambridge Antibody Technologies UK, The Institute Pasteur in Paris and the Institute Butantan in Brazil has demonstrated neutralising anti-viper antibodies using phage display technology. Unfortunately this technology is, for now, impractically expensive. However, reports that human proteins can now be made in quantity in vitro using human cells suggest that an affordable, high affinity, human IgG snake antivenom may eventually be feasible. Clinical problems have largely driven Australian venom research to date. Much remains to be done in this area.