AI-designed proteins neutralise deadly snake-venom toxins and protect mice
Baker lab and DTU researchers (Nature, Jan 2025) used RFdiffusion to design small proteins that bind and neutralise cobra three-finger toxins. Depending on dose, toxin and design, 80–100% of mice survived otherwise lethal doses.
Key facts
- Designed binders against short- and long-chain three-finger toxins
- 80–100% survival in mice given lethal doses
- Small, stable proteins could be cheaper to make than antibody-based antivenoms
Science result
- Field
- medicine / toxinology / protein therapeutics
- Problem
- Neutralising snake-venom three-finger toxins, poorly handled by existing antivenoms
- Result
- De novo designed proteins that neutralise lethal toxins in mice.
- AI system
- RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN
- Human role
- Human-led with AI tools
- Verification
- Peer-reviewed in Nature; lab-validated in mice
- Status
- confirmed
What happened
The team generated binders computationally, tested a small number in the lab, and confirmed protection in animal models.
Why it matters
Snakebite kills tens of thousands of people a year, mainly in poor regions. Cheap, designed antitoxins show AI protein design aimed at neglected diseases.
Changelog
- 2026-09-29: created
Related events
Sources (3)
- paperDe novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom toxins (Nature)
- officialBaker Lab: Neutralizing deadly snake toxins
- pressDTU: AI-designed proteins neutralise snake toxins
id: 2025-01-15-ai-designed-antivenom · updated 2026-09-29 · open in the interactive timeline