ADVERTISEMENTScientists believe that the study of the blood of a man bitten by snakes hundreds of times – often voluntarily – could lead to the creation of an anti -venom to better treat snake bites.
Tim Friede has long been fascinated by reptiles and other poisonous creatures. His hobby was to milking the venom of scorpions and spiders and kept dozens of snakes at home, in the Wisconsin, in the United States.
In the hope of protecting oneself from snake bites – and by what he calls “a simple curiosity “ – He started to inject small doses of snake venom, which he then increased slowly to try to acquire tolerance.
He then let himself be biting by the snakes.
“At the beginning, it was very frightening”, “but the more we do it, the more you improve, the more calm you become”. He explained.
Although no emergency medical doctor or medical technician – or anyone else, in fact – has never suggested that it was a good idea, the experts claim that this method makes it possible to follow the function of the body.
What’s going on when you are bitten by a snake?
When the immune system is exposed to snake venom toxins, It develops antibodies capable of neutralizing the poison.
If it is a small amount of venom, the body can react before being overwhelmed. If it is a venom that the organization has already seen, it can react more quickly and face larger exhibitions.
Tim Friede has resisted snake bites and injections for almost twenty years and still has a refrigerator filled with venom.
In videos posted on his YouTube channel, he shows the brands of inflated fangs on his arms following bites of black Mamba, Taïpan and Cobra d’Eau.
“I wanted to push the limits as close to death as possible, until I was wavering, then going back”he said.
But Tim Friede also wanted to help. He sent an email to all the scientists he could find, asking them to study the tolerance he had developed.
-The manufacture of an antivenin is a difficult process
And there is a need: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 110,000 people die each year from a snake bite.
But the manufacture of an antivenin is expensive and difficult. It is often created by injecting venom to large mammals such as horses and by collecting the antibodies they produce.
These antivenins are generally effective only against specific snake species and can sometimes produce poor reactions due to their non -human origin.
ADVERTISEMENTWhen Peter Kwong, of Columbia University, heard of Tim Friede’s case, he said: “Oh, wow, it’s very unusual. We had a very special individual with amazing antibodies he developed over a period of 18 years “.
In a study published Friday in the revue CellPeter Kwong and his collaborators explain what they were able to do with the unique blood of Tim Friede.
They have identified two antibodies which neutralize the venom of many species of snakes, in order to one day produce a treatment which could offer wide protection.
Years before use in humans
Research is only in its infancy: the antivenin was only tested on mice and researchers are still years of trials on man.
ADVERTISEMENTAnd if their experimental treatment is promising against the group of snakes which includes Mambas and Cobras, it is not effective against vipers, which include snakes like crotals.
“Despite the promises, there remains a lot to do“said Nicholas Casewell, researcher on snake bites at the Liverpool tropical medicine school, who did not participate in the study.
The journey of this man was not free from missing. In particular, he had to cut himself out of the finger following a bad snake bite. Particularly unpleasant Cobra bites have also led him to the hospital.
Tim Friede is today employed by Centivax, a company that is trying to develop treatment and which has contributed to the financing of the study.
ADVERTISEMENTHe is delighted that his 18 -year -old odyssey can one day save lives following a snake bite, but his message to those who would like to follow his traces is simple: “Don’t do it” .
