07
January
2020
|
16:13
Asia/Singapore

Indian cobra genome sequenced and venom genes decoded

The bite of the Indian cobra can be deadly. Professor R. Manjunatha Kini from NUS, along with a team of international collaborators, have reported the sequencing and assembly of a high-quality genome of this venomous snake

 

Every year, accidental contact with snakes leads to over 100,000 deaths worldwide. India alone accounts for 2.8 million snakebite cases annually, and of these, about 50,000 are fatal. These cases are primarily attributed to four culprits — the Indian cobra, common krait, Russell's viper and saw scaled viper — infamously described as the ‘big four’.  

Now, Professor R. Manjunatha Kini from NUS Biological Sciences, along with a team of international collaborators from academia and industry, have reported the sequencing and assembly of a high-quality genome of one of these ‘big four’ — the Indian cobra (Naja naja).

These results were published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics  on 6 Jan 2020.

“For the first time, we now have a full list of venom-relevant toxin genes of the Indian cobra,” Prof Kini said. “This is a major step towards understanding its venom components and it will effectively change the way antivenom is developed,” he continued.

Snake venom, primarily used by the snake to subdue its prey, is a great source of drug-like molecules. The Indian cobra genome is no exception, and it codes for toxin molecules that can block pain, reduce blood pressure and prevent blood clots.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified snakebites as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), so safe and effective antivenom is a major unmet social need in India and other parts of the world. Now, the insights gained from the breakthrough in sequencing the genome of the Indian cobra will help develop better antivenom that could end snakebite-related deaths in the future.  

“It is about time we modernise antivenom development by leveraging genomics, recombinant protein expression and synthetic antibody development technologies. The Indian cobra genome and the catalogue of target toxins are a blueprint needed to do this,” Prof Kini explained.

The next steps for this research will be to obtain the genomes and the venom gland genes from the other three of the ‘big four’. “It will provide a complete platform for developing a safe, universal antivenom for snake bite victims all over India and neighbouring countries,” said Prof Kini.