Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Amputation Alternative
27 June 2016

Amputation Alternative

The saw-scaled viper (pictured) is considered the deadliest snake in the Indian subcontinent. Even if its bite doesn't kill, there’s a good chance the victim will be badly maimed and may require an amputation. That’s because life-saving antivenom generally fails to prevent tissue destruction at the bite. Researchers have now discovered that it’s the victim’s own white blood cells racing to counteract the venom that actually causes the local damage. The cells rapidly congregate at the injury and purposefully explode themselves to block the venom’s spread. But the sacrifice comes at a cost because the cells also block local blood flow, promote venom accumulation, and prevent antivenom access – all of which exacerbates tissue destruction. Using a special enzyme to destroy the blockages, researchers were able to prevent local tissue damage in venom-injected mice. Combining the enzyme treatment with antivenom might therefore save both life and limb from deadly snakebite.

Written by Ruth Williams

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.