The same mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines may offer a powerful new way to prevent long-term muscle damage caused by snakebites.
A new study published in Trends in Biotechnology shows that mRNA-based treatments could protect muscle tissue from the venom of Bothrops asper, a snake commonly found in Central and South America.
Its venom destroys muscle cells so severely that many survivors are left with permanent disabilities, even after receiving standard antivenom.
Researchers from the University of Reading and the Technical University of Denmark tested whether mRNA molecules could help the body produce fast-acting antibodies that defend muscle cells from venom toxins.
They packaged specially designed mRNA inside tiny fat droplets, similar to the method used in COVID-19 vaccines. When injected into muscle, the mRNA teaches cells to make protective antibodies that block venom damage.
Professor Sakthi Vaiyapuri from the University of Reading, the study’s lead author, explained that this is the first time mRNA technology has been shown to protect muscle tissue from venom-induced injury.
He said the findings open a new direction in snakebite treatment, particularly because current antivenoms do not prevent much of the local muscle damage near the bite.
Professor Andreas Laustsen from the Technical University of Denmark, who co-led the study, added that this approach could be useful beyond snakebites. Many bacteria produce toxins slowly during infections, and a similar mRNA strategy could potentially block those toxins before they cause harm.
Today’s antivenoms work well in the bloodstream but struggle to reach muscle cells around the bite site.
As a result, many victims suffer permanent disability. In laboratory tests on human muscle cells, the new mRNA treatment reduced damage caused by both isolated toxins and whole venom. In mice, a single injection of mRNA provided strong protection when given up to 48 hours before exposure to the toxin.
The animals that received the treatment showed much lower levels of enzymes such as creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase—markers that signal muscle injury. Their muscle tissue remained more intact and healthier compared to untreated mice. The protective antibodies appeared in the tissue within 12 to 24 hours after injection.
Researchers believe this treatment could be used alongside traditional antivenoms. While antivenoms neutralize toxins circulating in the blood, mRNA-made antibodies could protect nearby muscle tissue and block additional toxins that antivenoms may not reach effectively.
However, several challenges must be solved before this technology can help real patients. The treatment currently targets only one toxin, while most venoms contain many different harmful components.
The antibodies also take time to develop, and the medication would need to be stable in remote areas where refrigeration may not be available.
Professor Vaiyapuri said the next steps include expanding the treatment to protect against multiple toxins, improving storage for rural clinics, and testing whether the mRNA treatment can work after a bite—not just before.
If successful, it could dramatically reduce the number of people left with lifelong disabilities from snakebites around the world.
