Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing
Venoms are complex mixtures of biologically active molecules that impact multiple physiological systems. Manufacture of antivenoms (AVs) therefore requires potency testing using in vivo models to ensure AV efficacy. As part of ongoing research to replace small animals as the standard model for AV po...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/4/233 |
| _version_ | 1797540134021758976 |
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| author | Erin E. Verity Kathy Stewart Kirsten Vandenberg Chi Ong Steven Rockman |
| author_facet | Erin E. Verity Kathy Stewart Kirsten Vandenberg Chi Ong Steven Rockman |
| author_sort | Erin E. Verity |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Venoms are complex mixtures of biologically active molecules that impact multiple physiological systems. Manufacture of antivenoms (AVs) therefore requires potency testing using in vivo models to ensure AV efficacy. As part of ongoing research to replace small animals as the standard model for AV potency testing, we developed an alternate in vivo method using the embryonated egg model (EEM). In this model, the survival of chicken embryos envenomated in ovo is determined prior to 50% gestation, when they are recognized as animals by animal welfare legislation. Embryos were found to be susceptible to a range of snake, spider, and marine venoms. This included funnel-web spider venom for which the only other vertebrate, non-primate animal model is newborn mice. Neutralization of venom with standard AV allowed correlation of AV potency results from the EEM to results from animal assays. Our findings indicate that the EEM provides an alternative, insensate in vivo model for the assessment of AV potency. The EEM may enable reduction or replacement of the use of small animals, as longer-term research that enables the elimination of animal use in potency testing continues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:55:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-023ad961cc3340c78185b2374e6195bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:55:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-023ad961cc3340c78185b2374e6195bf2023-11-21T11:52:28ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512021-03-0113423310.3390/toxins13040233Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal TestingErin E. Verity0Kathy Stewart1Kirsten Vandenberg2Chi Ong3Steven Rockman4Technical Development, Seqirus Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaTechnical Development, Seqirus Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaTechnical Development, Seqirus Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaTechnical Development, Seqirus Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaTechnical Development, Seqirus Ltd., Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaVenoms are complex mixtures of biologically active molecules that impact multiple physiological systems. Manufacture of antivenoms (AVs) therefore requires potency testing using in vivo models to ensure AV efficacy. As part of ongoing research to replace small animals as the standard model for AV potency testing, we developed an alternate in vivo method using the embryonated egg model (EEM). In this model, the survival of chicken embryos envenomated in ovo is determined prior to 50% gestation, when they are recognized as animals by animal welfare legislation. Embryos were found to be susceptible to a range of snake, spider, and marine venoms. This included funnel-web spider venom for which the only other vertebrate, non-primate animal model is newborn mice. Neutralization of venom with standard AV allowed correlation of AV potency results from the EEM to results from animal assays. Our findings indicate that the EEM provides an alternative, insensate in vivo model for the assessment of AV potency. The EEM may enable reduction or replacement of the use of small animals, as longer-term research that enables the elimination of animal use in potency testing continues.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/4/233embryonated eggsvenomantivenompotencyneutralization |
| spellingShingle | Erin E. Verity Kathy Stewart Kirsten Vandenberg Chi Ong Steven Rockman Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing Toxins embryonated eggs venom antivenom potency neutralization |
| title | Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing |
| title_full | Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing |
| title_fullStr | Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing |
| title_short | Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing |
| title_sort | potency testing of venoms and antivenoms in embryonated eggs an ethical alternative to animal testing |
| topic | embryonated eggs venom antivenom potency neutralization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/4/233 |
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