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A new study published in the journal Cell outlines researchers' development of reptile organoids; specifically, organoids of the venom glands of the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi).1 What's more, these organoids are capable of producing venom in vitro.





What is an organoid?

In case you're unfamiliar, an organoid is a 3D multicellular in vitro construct that mimics an in vivo organ and can be therefore utilized to study how the organ works at the molecular level in a dish within the laboratory.2



Want to learn more about organoids? Download our infographic.





Snake venom – a source of potent therapeutics

suggest that between 81,000 and 138,000 people die annually as a result of snake bites. Multiply this figure by three and you have a rough estimation of the number of amputations caused by snake bites every year.





Post continues, "

An iconic reptile that drew most of our attention was the snake that carries adapted salivary glands that produce venom. Snake bites kill over 100,000 people a year, but the venom also contains many molecules which could be potent therapeutics. The snake venom gland organoid would – besides being the first reptilian organoid – be a useful system to start fighting snakebite or bioprospecting venom."







Organoids successfully produce biologically active venom





Creating next generation antivenoms





Towards a "biobank" of potent drugs?



Yorick Post, Jens Puschhof and Joep Beumer, PhD students at Hubrecht University, were speaking with Molly Campbell, Science Writer, Technology Networks.



1. Post et al. (2020). Snake Venom Gland Organoids. Cell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.038.





2. De Souza. (2018). Organoids. Nature Methods. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.4576.