Pope’s pit viper

Pope’s pit viper: A new study has uncoded the mysteries of how the venom of Pope’s Pit Viper, a snake species native to northern and northeastern parts of India, works.

• About Pope’s Pit Viper: It is "Big Four" venomous snakes—Russell's Viper, Saw-Scaled Viper, Spectacled Cobra, and Common Krait—have undergone considerable research.

o The venom composition of Pope's Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum), an arboreal, nocturnal serpent indigenous to the dense forests of Northeast India, remains unexamined until now.

• Key findings: The study can help establish the foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced

  -antivenom compositions. It was recently published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

  o Contemporary label-free quantitative proteomics identified 106 proteins in the venom, categorized into 12 toxin families.

  o 60% of its venom comprises enzymes that break down proteins, damage tissue, interfere with blood coagulation, and induce local haemorrhage.

  o The venom's harmful components are mostly toxic enzymes, demonstrating their deleterious effects on the victim.

  o By comprehending the proteomic complexity of Pope's Pit Viper venom, researchers have established a foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced antivenom compositions.

  o As India endeavours to decrease snakebite mortality by 50% by 2030, such innovative research would facilitate transforming venom studies into life-saving medical treatments.