An anti-venom serum is
made by milking venom
from one or more species
of poisonous snakes and
then hyper-immunizing an
animal (generally horse) with
injections of increased dosage
of the venom. The animal's
blood produces antibodies
against the weakened
venom, which increase as
the dosage increases. Blood
from this hyper-immunized
animal is drawn and its serum
(plasma without fibrinogen
and blood cells) containing
antibodies against the venom
is extracted and refined to
produce the anti-venom
serum.
explain it
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
1. A technician extracts and
later purifies venom from the
species for which scientists want
to make an antivenom.
2. A ranch hand injects a small,
harmless dose of venom
into a horse. The toxins in the
venom trigger the horse’s immune
system to produce antibodies that
neutralize those particular toxins.
3. Over the next year, the horse
receives several booster
shots with increasing amounts
of venom. Eventually, the horse
produces so many antibodies that
it’s immune to the venom.
4. A ranch hand draws blood
from the horse. A machine
extracts the plasma, the part of the
blood that contains the antibodies.
The rest of the blood is returned
to the horse.
5. The plasma is sent to a lab,
where chemists purify it and
package it as a liquid or freeze dried
powder. It is then shipped in
vials to hospital pharmacies.
6. When a patient comes in with
a bite or sting, doctors use an
IV line to inject the antivenom into
the patient’s veins. The antibodies
circulate through the body and
neutralize the toxin molecules.