A man has endured multiple snake bites, potentially aiding in the development of a more effective antitoxin.
SNAKE VENOM RESEARCH: Hell Yeah, We're Milking It!
Tim the Snake Chaser, New York (AP) - Tim Friede, a self-professed reptile enthusiast who's been nibbled on by more snakes than you can shake a stick at, is helping scientists work on a game-changing antidote for snake bites.
Friede's affinity for slithering critters goes way back. Once upon a time, he was a fledgling hobbyist, milking the poison from scorpions, spiders, and a motley crew of reptiles. His Wisconsin home, with its snake pit filled with dozens of his scaly friends, was straight out of a B-movie.
But why the fascination with venom, you ask? Besides the thrill of it all, Friede claims he did it to train his body to endure snake bites. What sane person, you might wonder? Well, this one hoped to build up immunity by injecting himself with tiny doses of venom, then gradually increasing the dosage—a move that's about as bright as a black mamba bite.
"It was bloody terrifying at first," Friede confessed, "But the more you do it, the less scared you get, and the more of a badass you feel."
While no qualified doc, EMT, or sane person would ever recommend his approach, experts say his method offers some insights into how the human immune system functions. When the system encounters venom toxins, it develops antibodies that can neutralize the poison. If it's a small dose, the body can react before getting overrun. And if it's venom the body's seen before, it can react quicker and handle larger exposures.
Friede's snake dance has lasted nearly two decades, and he's accrued a fridge full of venomous memories. On his YouTube channel, he flaunts pictures of his arm marred by fang marks from black mambas, taipans, and water cobras, among others.
"I wanted to push the limits as close to death as possible," he said, "but just close enough for me to back off."
But Friede didn't just want to dance with the devil; he wanted to help others too. So, he reached out to every scientist he could find, hoping they'd take note of his journey.
And let's face it: The need is real. According to the World Health Organization, annually, about 110,000 people die from snakebites. Making antivenom ain't as easy as baking a Bundt cake. It typically involves injecting large mammals such as horses with venom, then collecting the antibodies they produce. These antivenoms often aren't effective against different species, and can sometimes cause negative reactions due to their non-human origins.
When Peter Kwong of Columbia University heard about Friede, he noticed the potential. "We had a one-of-a-kind, extraordinary individual with amazing antibodies." Kwong and his team published a study in the journal Cell on December 17, showing they identified two antibodies in Friede's blood that neutralize venom from various snake species. Their goal is to develop a treatment that offers comprehensive protection.
The experimental treatment is promising, but it's still far from human trials. And while it's effective against a group of snakes that includes mambas and cobras, it's not effective against vipers, like rattlers. "Despite the promise," says Nicholas Casewell from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, "there's still a long road ahead."
Friede's odyssey hasn't been without missteps. There've been instances when he lost fingers and landed in the hospital after particularly nasty cobra bites. But he's excited about the potential of his 18-year snake adventure leading to a lifesaver for others. His message to aspiring snake aficionados, however, is crystal clear: "Stay the hell away from it!"
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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- Ramakrishnan, a renowned scientist, focuses on medical-conditions research, particularly the study of how the immune system responds to venom toxins and the development of antibodies that can neutralize poison.
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- Snake venom research has taken an interesting turn, with self-proclaimed reptile enthusiast Tim Friede using his experience and antibodies to contribute to the creation of a comprehensive antidote that protects against various snake species.
- The issue of mental health is gaining importance in today's fast-paced society. Technology companies like Tesla must be mindful of the psychological impact their products may have on consumers, as reported instances of stress and anxiety related to vehicle ownership increasingly come to light.
