الفهرس 
An experimental study for improving snake antivenin production using gamma radiation and a biotechnological technique
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Abstract
Snake-bite is considered a neglected tropical disease that affects thousands of people worldwide. Administration of antivenom is the corner stone in the therapy of snake-bite. The study aimed to improve the production of antivenom using gamma irradiation to detoxify venom and calcium phosphate nanoparticles as alternative adjuvant. This was carried out by studying the toxicological and immunological properties of the Naja haje venom before and after exposure to 2 KGy gamma radiation. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles were selected to be used as adjuvant as they showed better entrapment efficacy than Alum or chitosan nanoparticles. In order to achieve the goal of the present study, the native, Þ irradiated and nanoparticles loaded venom as well nanoparticles loaded irradiated venom were used for preparation of their specific antivenom using rabbits. Data revealed that gamma irradiation of Naja haje venom reduced its lethality to one sixth as compared to its native venom. There was no change in the antigenic reactivity between both native and Þ irradiated Naja haje venoms. Inhibition in the phospholipase and proteolytic activities after gamma irradiation were shown. Furthermore, injection of Þ irradiated Naja haje venom did not significantly change activities of serum LDH, CPK, CK-MB, ALT and AST as well as urea and creatinine levels compared to the normal group. In addition, the immune response of immunized rabbits was evaluated through determination of antibody titer using ELISA technique, serum titer produced with Þ irradiated venom loaded on CPN showed highest titer as compared to other sera. Results indicated that the sooner antivenom was injected the higher the neutralizing capacity obtained