Poster preparation and presentation information

Thank you for considering presenting your work as a poster at this conference. Below are the key details and submission guidelines.

Deadlines

• Poster abstracts (as MS Word) must be submitted by 15th August.
• Digital posters (as PDF) and flash-talk videos must be submitted by 20th August.

Poster preparation & format

Poster size

Digital-only presenters

• Save your poster in A1 or A0, landscape or portrait format.
• Page size is flexible if presenting only digitally.

In-person presenters

• Print your poster in A1 portrait format only
• Larger or landscape posters may not be displayed due to space constraints

File naming

For submission, name your digital poster files as follows:

• <your surname>-Ven26-Poster.
• Example: for David Jones, name your file as Jones-Ven26-Poster.
• Do not use generic names such as: Oxford-poster, Venoms2026, Oxford-venoms-poster.

Digital poster submission

All poster presenters, whether attending virtually or in person, are required to submit a digital version ( as PDF) of their poster via the designated upload link. Posters will be made accessible to all conference participants via the secure ‘Download VEN26 Documents’ page, ensuring visibility across both virtual and in-person audiences.

• Submit your final PDF poster (<5MB) via the designated upload link
• Do not send posters or abstracts by email
• Ensure your submission is final—once published, it cannot be replaced
• Late submissions may not be included in the programme

Poster presentation

Presentation timing

Presenting digitally only

• Currently, there is no scheduled time for presenting digital posters. Instead, virtual attendees will be able to interact with poster presenters via the Zoom chatbox during the conference.
• A specific poster presentation session may be announced later.

Presenting in-person

• Bring a printed A1 portrait poster for display
• Larger or landscape posters may not be displayed due to space constraints
• You are responsible for printing and transporting your poster
• You may be assigned a specific day and time for display

Presentation via a flash-talk video

To maximise visibility, exposure and engagement, we encourage all poster presenters, whether presenting digitally or in-person, to submit a short video (max 5 minutes) introducing their work. Videos will be featured on the LPMHealthcare YouTube channel.

Instructions

• Download the official opening slide (VenOx26 first slide) and use it as the first slide of your presentation (see example: https://youtu.be/XatqenCd_IU?si=Yu1PooCD4JmSLAiz).
• Record your presentation using Zoom or any preferred platform. Keep it under 5 minutes.
• Save your video in a YouTube-compatible format (e.g., MP4)
• Send your video via a file transfer service such as MailBigFile or WeTransfer to: VenomsOxford@gmail.com

Any further information about the poster presentations will be available in the future on this page.

Before uploading your poster, you must make sure that you follow ALL of the instructions above!

Upload your poster

Accepted posters (unedited)

(Presenters in Bold; virtual only posters are marked V)

If your abstract has been accepted for presentation but it does not appear in the list below, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing VenomsOxford@gmail.com.

Delayed access to care and severity of scorpion envenomation: a dose-response analysis from Central Brazil

Isadora M L R Castro¹, Ana Clara A Dias¹, Carine R M G Amoroso¹, Laís M L R Castro¹, Laura R Jacomini¹, Layane B F Pinto¹, Maria Eduarda R Hallal¹, Marco Aurélio M Elias², Nelson J Silva Jr¹, Juliany G G Silva¹

¹Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil

²Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil

Scorpion envenomation is an important public health problem in Brazil, particularly in regions where access to timely medical care remains uneven. This study evaluated factors associated with moderate or severe scorpion envenomation in Goiás, Central Brazil. A retrospective analytical study was conducted using secondary data from notifications of venomous animal exposures recorded by the Goiás Toxicological Information and Assistance Center (CIATox-GO) and the Hospital Estadual de Doenças Tropicais Dr. Anuar Auad (HDT) between 2003 and 2018. Of 28,984 notifications initially identified, 8,328 scorpion envenomation cases met the eligibility, consistency, and completeness criteria. Clinical severity was classified as mild or moderate/severe. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance, including sex, age group, zone of occurrence, time from sting to care, and local and systemic manifestations. Longer time to care was independently associated with greater severity; each additional day between the recorded dates was associated with a 3.1% increase in the prevalence of moderate/severe cases (aPR=1.031; 95% CI 1.013–1.049; p=0.001). Zone of occurrence was also associated with severity (aPR=1.124; 95% CI 1.055–1.198; p<0.001). Children were the most vulnerable group: adolescents (aPR=0.483), adults (aPR=0.471), and older adults (aPR=0.616) had significantly lower prevalence than children (all p<0.001). These findings indicate that clinical severity is associated with both biological vulnerability and the timeliness and territorial context of access to care. Reducing delays, strengthening regional emergency and referral networks, and prioritizing pediatric assessment may help reduce avoidable morbidity in endemic areas.

Coral Snake Envenomations in the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia: Epidemiological Rarity and Clinical Importance

Lais M L R de Castro¹, Isadora M L R de Castro², Juliany G G Silva², Nelson J Silva Jr²

¹Evangelical University of Goiás, Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil

²Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil

Coralsnake (Micrurus spp.) envenomations are among the least frequently reported snakebite accidents in Brazil but remain medically relevant because of their potential severity and the need for prompt diagnosis and specific antivenom therapy. However, epidemiological data describing these uncommon events, particularly in highly urbanized regions, remain scarce. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of Micrurus envenomations in the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia (MRG), Central Brazil. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) from 2007 to 2026 in contrast to data derived directly from medical records within the Goiás state health system (SUPES-GO). Data were initially analysed to contextualize the burden of venomous animal accidents, followed by state-level analysis in Goiás and detailed evaluation of Micrurus envenomations occurring in the 21 municipalities of the MRG. During the study period, Brazil reported 4,237,991 venomous animal accidents, including 589,810 snakebites, of which only 0.95% were attributed to Micrurus. In Goiás, 183 (0,53%) Micrurus envenomations were identified, with 18 cases occurring in the MRG. Most patients were male (83.3%), and one-third of the cases occurred in Goiânia. Bites predominantly involved the lower limbs (50.0%), 88.9% of patients received medical care within six hours, and 55.6% of cases were classified as severe. Despite this, 88.9% of patients evolved to cure and no deaths were recorded. These findings demonstrate that, although coralsnake envenomations represent a very small proportion of snakebite notifications, they frequently present with severe clinical classification linked to proper taxonomical identification. Their occurrence in a highly urbanized metropolitan region reinforces the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance, maintenance of clinical suspicion, and timely availability of specific antivenom.

Can in silico predicted repurposed drugs prevent dermonecrosis caused by Echis romani and Bitis arietans venom?

Anna Groves¹, Stephanie French^1,2, Rachael Da-Silva¹, Rohit Patel¹, Martijn ten Have¹, Cassandra M Modahl¹ 

¹CSRI, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK

²Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5GB, UK

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease responsible for >100,000 deaths annually and long-term morbidity in an additional >400,000 individuals each year. Currently the only treatment for snakebite envenoming is antivenom; however, its use is associated with several limitations, including a high risk of adverse reactions such as anaphylactic shock, low specific antibody titres, and high production costs. Furthermore, antivenoms are ineffective at preventing local tissue damage, which contributes to the high morbidity. Repurposed small molecule drugs have emerged as a promising snakebite envenoming therapy due to several advantages, including reduced costs and the absence of cold-chain storage requirements. Current research has focused on small molecule drugs that inhibit specific snake venom toxins, such as the compounds marimastat and varespladib. However, host-directed small molecule therapeutics represent an alternative approach. Here, we aim to identify candidate drugs capable of targeting the downstream effects of venom by reversing the gene expression signatures of cytotoxic snake envenoming. Using a human keratinocyte cell model and RNA-sequencing, we determined which genes are up- and down-regulated following treatment with cytotoxic snake venoms. From these results, we applied an in silico prediction algorithm to identify small molecule drugs likely to reverse venom-induced gene expression changes. Candidate compounds were then evaluated using resazurin-based cytotoxicity assays in the presence and absence of venom treatments. These findings demonstrate the utility of in silico approaches for identifying novel small molecule drugs that target host response pathways as potential adjunct therapeutics to mitigate dermonecrosis and local tissue damage caused by snakebite envenoming.

Eco-epidemiology, taxonomic precision, and antivenom adequacy in snakebite envenoming in Central Brazil: novel indicators for surveillance quality and public health decision-making

Maria Eduarda R Hallal¹, Yasmin J Mendes², Ana Clara A Dias¹, Isadora M L R Castro¹, Laura R Jacomini¹, Layane B F Pinto¹, Darlan Feitosa Tavares¹, Nelson J S Júnior¹, Juliany G G Silva¹.

¹Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Goiânia, Brazil

²School of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Snakebite envenoming remains a neglected tropical disease and a major public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions. Recognized by the World Health Organization as a global priority, reducing snakebite mortality by 50% by 2030 requires improvements in surveillance and antivenom management. This study evaluated snakebite notifications from a referral center in Central Brazil and proposed indicators to assess surveillance quality and therapeutic adequacy. A retrospective observational study analyzed 11,015 notifications recorded between 2003 and 2018 at a specialized tropical diseases hospital. Demographic, environmental, clinical, and therapeutic variables were analyzed. Two indicators were developed: the Taxonomic Precision Indicator (TPI/IPT), measuring valid species identification, and the Ecoepidemiological Surveillance Index (EESI/IVE), based on species identification, environment of occurrence, time to medical care, clinical severity, and patient outcome. An Antivenom Adequacy Audit compared the recorded snake species with the antivenom administered. Bothrops spp. accounted for 61.6% of cases, Crotalus spp. for 16.3%, and 22.1% lacked taxonomic identification. Most patients received care within three hours, and antivenom administration exceeded 96% of envenoming cases. The TPI/IPT reached 77.9%, indicating moderate taxonomic surveillance performance. The audit identified therapeutic inconsistencies, including antivenom use in non-venomous snakebites and unexpected antivenom combinations. Missing environmental and clinical data reduced surveillance quality. The proposed indicators identified weaknesses in surveillance and treatment while providing a practical framework to evaluate notification quality and optimize antivenom management. Their application may strengthen surveillance systems and support the WHO 2030 targets for reducing snakebite mortality.

A One Health Perspective on Spider Envenomation in Central Brazil: Eco-Epidemiology, Surveillance Quality, Professional Training, and Antivenom Stewardship

Laura R Jacomini, Ana Clara A Dias, Isadora M L R Castro, Maria Eduarda R Hallal, Layane B F Pinto, Ivone F Sousa, Darlan Feitosa Tavares, Nelson J Silva Jr, Juliany G G Silva

Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil

Spider envenomation remains an underrecognized challenge for translational toxinology in tropical regions, where species-specific care depends on taxonomic identification, adequate therapy and robust surveillance. This retrospective study analysed 1,482 spider-bite notifications recorded over 16 years at Hospital Estadual de Doenças Tropicais Dr. Anuar Auad, a reference centre in Central Brazil. Epidemiological, ecological, clinical, therapeutic and surveillance-quality variables were assessed. Taxonomic identification was unavailable in 1,314 cases (88.7%), representing the main surveillance limitation. Among identified cases, Loxosceles spp. accounted for 5.9%, Phoneutria spp. for 4.5%, Theraphosidae for 0.8% and Latrodectus spp. for 0.1%. Distinct eco-epidemiological patterns were observed: Loxosceles spp. and Theraphosidae predominated in urban settings, whereas Phoneutria spp. was more represented in rural areas. Adult males were most affected, suggesting occupational, domestic and environmental exposure. Cases clustered during warmer and wetter months, supporting climatic influence on human-arachnid encounters. Most patients received care within three hours and evolved with mild manifestations; however, severe outcomes occurred more often after Phoneutria spp. (6.0%) and Loxosceles spp. (4.6%) accidents, consistent with their neurotoxic and dermonecrotic potential. Renal injury, haemorrhagic complications and compartment syndrome indicated morbidity despite low lethality. Antivenom use concentrated in Phoneutria spp. and Loxosceles spp., but anti-Bothrops, anticrotalic and antiscorpion records revealed therapeutic inconsistencies. Integrating taxonomic resolution, eco-epidemiological patterns, clinical severity and antivenom-use consistency provides a framework to audit surveillance quality and support evidence-based antivenom stewardship. Strengthening species identification, notifier training and treatment audit may improve toxinology surveillance.

Discovery of V_HHs Targeting Three-Finger Toxins from Micrurus alleni and Micrurus mosquitensis for development of a genus-wide recombinant antivenom

Maissa Mathlouthi, Melisa Bénard-Valle, Matilde Cotrim, Kasper H Björnsson, Pelle D Knudsen, Andreas H Laustsen

Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

Snakebite envenomation remains a major global health concern. Coral snakes, distributed across North and South America, are estimated to cause approximately 2,400 envenomation cases annually. Coral snake venom exerts a potent neurotoxic effect which can be lethal if untreated. The major toxin families in coral snake venom are phospholipases A₂ (PLA₂s) and three-finger toxins (3FTxs). Current treatment relies on polyclonal antibodies obtained from the plasma of hyperimmunized animals; however, they often suffer from batch-to-batch variation and low neutralization of poorly immunogenic toxins. Venom variability among coral snake species also limits cross-neutralization. Our group has previously shown that a mix of only two single-domain antibodies (V_HHs) neutralize the lethality of whole coral snake venoms from Mexico and the United States. This project aims to discover V_HHs that can extend the neutralization capacity of this mixture to coral snake species from central and south America. To this end, we performed the discovery and initial characterization of V_HHs against 3FTxs from Micrurus alleni and Micrurus mosquitensis. This poster presents the purification and isolation of specific 3FTx toxins from crude venom, the discovery of toxin-specific V_HHs through screening of phage display outputs and assessment of V_HH binding. To date, high affinity binders have been identified and expressed and are currently under further characterization. This work may ultimately contribute to the development of a broad-spectrum antivenom effective against coral snake species across the Americas.

Galleria Envenoming Model (G.E.M.): an alternative in vivo non-mammalian model using Galleria mellonella (wax moth) larvae

Rachel Bridge¹, Stefanie K Menzies², James Wakefield³, James Pearce³, Aarón Gómez Argüello⁴, Guillermo León Montero⁴, Stuart Ainsworth⁵ and Rachel H Clare¹

¹Biology Department, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, UK

²Biomedical & Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

³Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK

⁴Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, Dulce Nombre of Coronado, San José, Costa Rica

⁵Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, UK

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) annually kills ~100,000 people worldwide, with 4-fold more suffering life-altering morbidity. Antivenom, the only approved treatment, requires preclinical models to assess efficacy and safety as an essential part of the regulated manufacturing  process. The only validated assays to determine the potential clinical effectiveness of an antivenom are preclinical rodent models (typically mice). These procedures are rated ‘severe’ in the UK and EU, are resource-intensive and require high animal numbers. Galleria mellonella have gained momentum as a replacement for vertebrate models in the last decade across many scientific fields. Developing a G. mellonella model for SBE would provide a low-cost, low-resource intensive, high-throughput non-vertebrate alternative in vivo model. Our pilot data demonstrates that G. mellonella envenoming pathology is comparable to mammalian envenoming, resulting in discrete pathology representing clotting abnormalities, paralysis and cytotoxicity. Through our NC3Rs project grant titled the Galleria Envenoming Model (G.E.M) we are i) developing the model to allow for quantitative non-bias analysis of clotting, paralysis and cytotoxicity, ii) validating this model through testing 14 diverse venoms (LD₅₀s) and 3 antivenoms (ED₅₀s) including correlation to the directly matched mouse data, before iii) validation of the model in 2 academic groups and within the antivenom manufacturer Instituto Clodomiro Picado. In parallel we will host workshops (online and in person) to train additional laboratories to establish the same standardised model. To date we have tested 6 of the 12 venoms and one antivenom (EchiTAb plus-ICP) against three of these venoms.

Potential use of G-CSF therapy in skeletal muscle alterations induced by Bothrops leucurus venom

Clara M Mimoso¹, Marcos Lázaro S Guerreiro², Girlaine C Santos³, Simone G Macambira^3,4, Luciana L Casais-e-Silva¹

¹Laboratory of Neuroimmunoendocrinology and Toxinology (LABNIET), Department of Bioregulation, Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil

²Department of Life Sciences, State University of Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, BA, Brazil

³Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Immunopharmacology, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, FIOCRUZ/Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil

⁴Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil

Snakebite is a major public health issue in tropical regions. In Bahia, Brazil, around 70% of these incidents are caused by Bothrops leucurus snake (BL). The local effects of envenomation are not effectively neutralized by antivenom therapy, often resulting in irreversible tissue damage. Although alternative treatments have been proposed, none are clinically implemented. Experimental Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) treatments in skeletal muscle (SM) showed an increase in the diameter of regenerative fibers, a rise in myocyte numbers, and enhanced angiogenic effects, improving tissue recovery. This study aimed to characterize the temporal progression of SM injury and repair induced by BL venom in an experimental model, including structural damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cytokine expression. The effect of G-CSF treatment (Filgrastim®) on these parameters was also evaluated. Swiss mice (n=5) were inoculated with BL venom (50 μg/paw) and euthanized at 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d (CEUA-ICS 3470020420). G-CSF (0,3 μg/μL) was administered to distinct groups at 7 d and 28 d post-inoculation. Local damage was assessed through plasma creatine kinase (CK) quantification, histological analysis, inflammatory cell counts, and cytokine gene expression (RT-qPCR). Venom-induced myotoxicity was confirmed by elevated CK at 6 h, along with edema, hemorrhage, myonecrosis, myofibrillar hypercontraction, and delta lesions. Inflammatory infiltrates were observed at all time points, with the highest levels at 7 d and 14 d. Gene expression revealed increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, ARG, and VEGF at different time points. G-CSF treatment reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, improved vascular growth, and lowered collagen deposition, suggesting enhanced muscle recovery. These findings indicate that G-CSF may be an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce musculoskeletal damage following BL envenomation.

Comparative Biochemical and Biological Characterization of the Venoms of Echis coloratus and Echis carinatus sochureki (V)

Nafiseh Nasri Nasrabadi¹, Majid Tebianian², Morteza Taghizadeh², Hossein Vatanpour³, Mehdi Kheirollahpour^4,5

¹Quality Control Department, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

²Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

³Department of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran (CCERCI), Tehran, Iran

⁵Department of Venomous Animals and Anti-venom, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

Echis coloratus (saw-scaled viper, Middle Eastern) and Echis carinatus sochureki (Sochurek’s saw-scaled viper, Asiatic) are venomous snakes with clinical significance responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. They are members of the genus Echis and their differing venom composition could be the cause for divergent clinical course and success of antivenom therapy. This study provides a comparative analysis of the biochemical composition and biological activities of venoms from E. coloratus and E. carinatus sochureki, focusing on enzymatic profiles, toxicity parameters, and hematological effects. Venom proteins were analyzed using SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC. Bioactivities were assessed through parameters, including LD₅₀, hemorrhagic, procoagulant, defibrinogenating, and necrotic activities, as well as by measuring different blood coagulation times (PT, APTT, TCT, and FCT). Blood-related perturbations, induced by venom, were measured in in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, neutralizing capability of a commercially polyvalent antivenom against the venom’s procoagulant and defibrinogenating activities was assayed. Both venoms share a predominance of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and serine proteases, but significant quantitative differences were observed. E. carinatus sochureki venom exhibited higher PLA₂ activity and greater lethal potency (lower LD₅₀), whereas E. coloratus venom showed stronger hemorrhagic activity and higher SVMP content. Similar SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC analyses confirmed there were qualitative and quantitative difference between the protein constituents of the two venoms in accordance with the previously demonstrated difference in their biologic activities Both venoms demonstrated potent procoagulant effects via factor X and prothrombin activation, albeit with differential kinetics. Antivenom neutralization studies indicated variable cross-reactivity. This report confirms that envenomation by Echis carinatus sochureki can lead to severe hematological disorders that become evident within the first hours after envenoming, necessitating prompt medical and clinical attention to reduce the severity of symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report a comparative analysis of the biochemical and biological profiles of the venoms of E. coloratus and E. carinatus sochureki in Iran. The venoms of these two species exhibits both overlapping and species-specific biochemical and toxicological profiles. These differences underscore the importance of species-specific antivenom development and have direct implications for the clinical management of envenomation in endemic regions.

Evolution of alkaloid sequestration in poison frogs: a phylogenomic study

Julia A de Pinna^1,2, Daniel C Pimenta², Kim Roelants¹

¹Ecology, Evolution and Genetics group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

²Ecology and Evolution Lab, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil

The majority of frogs use a proteinaceous skin secretion to fend off predators. However, in Dendrobatidae and several other frog families, these gene-encoded toxins have been evolutionarily replaced by lipophilic alkaloids sequestered from a specialized diet. As these replacements imply the evolution of mechanisms that protect the frogs from the alkaloids’ neurotoxic effects and promote the accumulation of the alkaloids in the frogs’ skin glands, they represent a remarkable case of evolutionary innovation. To elucidate the origin of toxin sequestration, we investigated patterns of adaptative evolution in (1) Saxiphilin and Alkaloid-Binding Globulin (ABG), two secretory proteins previously proposed to be involved in detoxication, transport and storage of alkaloids and (2) voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) known as the most common target of neurotoxic alkaloids. Genomic screening and phylogenetic analyses show that the Saxiphilin and ABG genes of alkaloid-sequestering frogs have orthologues in a wide range of non-sequestering frogs, suggesting repurposing of preexisting genes at the origin of toxin sequestration. Gene duplication events and signatures of positive selection within Dendrobatidae indicate that protein diversification and adaptive evolution may have further optimized alkaloid sequestration in this clade. Predicted structures for the secretory proteins and sodium channels demonstrate aminoacid substitutions in positions that confirm strong selective pressure for toxin processing and resistance. This is the first comprehensive phylogenetic study that targets evolutionary trends in alkaloid sequestration and brings new insights on how this special mechanism evolved in poison frogs.

Development and Evaluation of RasFab: A Region-Specific Heptavalent F(ab’)₂ Antivenom Against Medically Important Iraqi Snake Venoms (V)

Seyed Fakhroddin Rahmani¹, Seyed Arshia Rahmani², Seyed Bardia Rahmani²

¹Head of production Department, Kimia Wargah Sazan, Tehran, Iran

²Quality Control Department, Kimia Wargah Sazan., Tehran, Iran

Snakebite envenoming remains a major neglected tropical disease in Iraq. The diversity of medically important venomous snakes in Iraq represents a significant therapeutic challenge. The efficacy of antivenoms is greatly influenced by the taxonomic composition of the immunizing venoms, therefore, it is expected that region-specific antivenoms provide a better clinical coverage. The present study was conducted to develop and pre-clinically evaluate a heptavalent equine F(ab’)₂ antivenom against the major venomous snake species in Iraq. Based on a comprehensive review of the medically important snake fauna of Iraq, venoms from seven species (Macrovipera lebetina, Walterinnesia morgani, Montivipera raddei, Echis carinatus, Pseudocerastes persicus, Pseudocerastes fieldi, and Cerastes gasperettii) were selected for immunization. Horses were hyperimmunized with a mixture of venoms and plasma-derived immunoglobulins were enzymatically digested and purified to produce an equine F(ab’)2 antivenom. The antivenom was tested for its capacity to neutralize toxins in standard pre-clinical neutralization assays. RasFAb passed all quality control criteria and demonstrated potent neutralisation efficacy against all seven venoms tested. The antivenom neutralized a minimum of 50 LD₅₀ of each venom in pre-clinical neutralization assays, indicating extensive paraspecific efficacy against the medically important venomous snakes of Iraq. The RasFAb is a new, region-specific, heptavalent equine F(ab’)2-derived antivenom that has been developed for the treatment of snakebite envenomation in Iraq. Its favourable preclinical neutralization profile supports its potential as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of envenomation caused by the country’s most prevalent venomous snake species. Additional toxicological, stability and clinical studies are required to establish its safety and therapeutic efficacy in human subjects.

Cytotoxic Effects of Aflatoxins Produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus Isolated from Feed on Murine Lymphocytes (V)

Nooshin Sohrabi

Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Aflatoxins are powerful toxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Ingestion of these mycotoxins is linked to immunotoxicity and adverse health outcomes. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of aflatoxins on murine T lymphocytes from standard and feed-derived Aspergillus isolates. Two standard isolates and two feed isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus were studied. The synthesis of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxins G1 (AFG1) were evaluated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cytotoxicity was determined in the murine EL4 T-lymphocyte cell line after incubation with different aflatoxin concentrations for different incubation times. The MTT assay and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to determine cell viability and apoptosis. The standard isolates of A. parasiticus and A. flavus from the feed showed the highest production levels of AFG1 and AFB1 respectively. A concentration of 1:10 dilution of aflatoxin extract from A. parasiticus caused the most significant decrease in EL4 cell viability and the highest incidence of apoptosis. Cytotoxicity increased in a concentration-dependent manner, corresponding to the aflatoxin production profile of the isolates. Feed-derived Aspergillus isolates could produce high levels of AFB1 and AFG1 with remarkable cytotoxic effects on murine T lymphocytes. The findings demonstrate the toxicological significance of feed contamination by aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species and emphasize the need for regular monitoring of animal feed to mitigate exposure to immunotoxic mycotoxins.

Using a lung transwell model for the in vitro assessment of inhaled defence- and national security-relevant compounds, using ricin as an example

Tiffany Morcom, Matthew Sheavyn, Lucy Roberts, Lucy Cork, Dominic Jenner, Alex Stoll, Millie Fuller, Charlotte Whitmore

Dstl, Porton Down, UK

As scientific research seeks to reduce the reliance on animal models, alternative, validated approaches to accurately model human respiratory biology are necessary to study the effects of compounds in vitro. As an example, inhalation of ricin causes severe lung injury and respiratory failure and is often studied in vivo. Pathological changes in the lung epithelia include necrosis and the apoptotic deletion of epithelial cells at all levels of the respiratory tract, and marked, neutrophilic inflammation. This study examined ricin’s cytotoxic interactions with transwell models of the human lower respiratory tract to identify if in vitro results correlate with these in vivo observations. SmallAir™ transwell models (Epithelix) were exposed to aerosolised ricin, delivered by the VITROCELL® Cloud Alpha MOVE, at deposition densities of ~0.004, 0.4, and 40 ng/cm² . At various timepoints after exposure, assays were conducted to assess cytotoxicity, cytokine release, histological profiles, and ricin permeation. Cytotoxicity was determined at 0-, 4-, 24-, and 48-hours with a LDH assay. The highest deposition density of ricin (40 ng/cm²) increased LDH release in a time-dependent manner, indicating increased cytotoxicity. At the lower densities LDH release did not increase, indicating a minimal cytotoxic effect. This observation was consistent with measures of the barrier integrity of the SmallAir™ models, quantified using lucifer yellow permeability assays and transepithelial resistance measurements. Here, the highest deposition density of ricin caused the most disruption to barrier integrity whilst little effect was observed at the lower densities. These preliminary results are consistent with observations reported in vivo, supporting the use of the SmallAir™ lung transwell model as an in vitro platform for assessing the respiratory effects of ricin. © Crown Copyright 2026, Dstl. This material is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence.