The venom of the European black widow can cause respiratory and heart problems and even be fatal. However, antiserums from horses are themselves highly prone to side effects. Now, a German research team has found another antidote. An international research group has developed compounds against the spider venom of the European black widow. The team led by Michael Hust from the Technical University of Braunschweig produced and tested various antibodies that neutralize a neurotoxin in the venom mixture. So far, such antidotes are usually obtained from the blood of horses that have been administered spider venom beforehand. However, such horse … Continue reading 45 Antibodies to Counter Black Widow’s Bite: A Milestone in Spider Venom Treatment