Evaluation of the immunotherapeutic potential of nanobodies against scorpion toxins

• Grant number: 22/15549-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Débora Botéquio Moretti
• Grantee: Heloísa de Matos Trinca
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/07454-9 - Construction of VHH library derived from camelids, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Accidents with venomous animals are a public health problem in several countries, mainly tropical and subtropical. In Brazil, more than half of accidents occur due to scorpion stings and, in 2018 alone, 157,069 accidents and 85 deaths were recorded, corresponding to 31% of deaths from accidents with venomous animals. Severe and moderate cases of scorpion envenomation should be treated with specific serum therapy, which has been produced since the beginning of the twentieth century in horses. However, in a current context where the health and welfare of animals are fundamental, society waits for less invasive and more efficient alternatives for the production of antivenoms and antitoxins. Nanobodies (Nbs or VHHs) have great therapeutic potential and have been studied as a treatment for numerous diseases. In addition to having greater economic efficiency of production, these camelid-derived single-chain antibody fragments are small, stable, soluble in aqueous solutions, and have high specificity and affinity for the target antigen. The inactivation of scorpion toxins by specific Nbs becomes, therefore, a therapeutic option of special importance for the treatment of accidents with scorpions. The present proposal will be carried out in partnership with the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, INTA/Argentina and aims to develop specific Nbs for scorpion toxins and evaluate the immunotherapeutic potential of this alternative serotherapy.