Opossums Are Immune to Snake Venom

It turns out that North American opossums are not just immune to rabies, they are also immune to venomous snakes, and to some of the most powerful biological poisons on Earth as well.

Yep, immune.

Opossum snake venom immunity is not just restricted to North American venomous snakes such as Eastern and Western Diamondback Rattle Snakes and Water Moccasins; it also extends to Monocled Cobras, Australian Taipans, Sea-snakes, Russell's Vipers, and Brazilian Rattlesnakes, as well as venom from North African scorpions, honeybees, and sea-cucumbers.

Rats injected with LTNF are not just immune to venomous snake bites; they are also unaffected by botulism and ricin -- two of the most toxic substances on earth

How is this possible?

It seems North American opossums (Didelphis virginiana) have something scientists are calling a "Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor" or LTNF. 

The LTNF in possum blood as been isolated using high-pressure liquid chromatography so that synthetic LTNF can now be made in abundance without depending upon opossum blood donors.

All of this is potentially a big deal because antivenin made from horses is snake-species-specific, and many people are very-reactive to horse-made antivenin.  As a result, if you have the wrong antivenin in your kit, it may not work at all and/or it may actually make the patient sicker. 

LTNF, however, seems to cut across the entire spectrum of snake venom, with little negative reaction in humans, and it also has the added benefit of being able to handle a few other toxins as well!

I think I may have to consider possums in a new light after learning all this!

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