Scientists map genome of Indian cobra

Researchers have assembled a high-quality genome sequence of Indian cobra (Naja naja), which could lead in rapid development of a safe and possibly cost-effective synthetic anti-venom.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Genetics, make Indian cobra the first among the most venomous four Indian snakes, which are collectively called the infamous ‘big four’, to be genetically mapped.

The research led by Somasekar Seshagiri from SciGenome Research Foundation, Bengaluru, used a combination of cutting-edge genomic technologies and assembled the most contiguous genome of this venomous snake.

Snakebite crisis

Across the world, more than 5 million people are bitten by venomous snakes every year, causing as many as 4 lakh amputations and more than 1 lakh deaths.

India alone accounts for 2.8 million snakebite cases that lead to about 50,000 deaths annually, primarily attributed to the Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper and saw scaled viper, infamously called the ‘big four’.

How will it help in anti-venom production?

Venom is a complex mixture of proteins encoded by genes that have been co-opted by some snakes as they evolved some 100 million years ago. Venom is primarily used by snakes to subdue their prey. It is also a great source of drug-like molecules.

Currently, anti-venom is produced by immunising horses with extracted snake venom and is based on a process developed more than 100 years ago. This process is laborious and suffers from a lack of consistency, leading to varying efficacy and serious side-effects.

Safe and effective anti-venom is a major unmet social need in India and other parts of the world. The World Health Organisation has classified snakebite as a neglected tropical disease (NTD).

In the Indian cobra genome, the researchers identified 19 key toxin genes primarily expressed in the venom glands.

“Targeting these 19 specific toxins using synthetic human antibodies should lead to a safe and effective anti-venom for treating Indian cobra bites,” said Seshagiri.

Researchers also point out about the necessity to modernise the production of anti-venom.

“It is about time we modernise anti-venom development by leveraging genomics, recombinant protein expression and synthetic antibody development technologies,” said R. Manjunatha Kini, professor of National University of Singapore, who was part of the study. “The Indian cobra genome and the catalogue of target toxins are a blueprint needed to do this. For the first time, we now have a full list of venom-relevant toxin genes of the Indian cobra.”

Scientists from AgriGenome Labs and MedGenome, US firm Genentech and their peers from many universities in the US and Singapore participated in the study.

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