Question

Which of the following institutes prepares antivenoms?
(A) Hofkin, Mumbai
(B) CDRI, Lucknow
(C) CIT, Lucknow
(D) CIV, Pune

Answer 1

Hint: Antivenoms are the substances that are effective against venoms i.e. animal poisons. Anti means oppose or resist and venin means venom or poison.

Complete answer:
Antivenin derived its name due to its ability to oppose or resist the action or effect of poison in the body of an organism. These are anti-toxic substances that are injected in the person’s body when they are attacked by any poisonous insect or snake and their venom or poison is injected inside a person’s body. Antivenin acts by neutralizing the effect of venom that has entered into the body of a living being. Antibodies are generally created in the blood of a horse or sheep when the animal is injected by snake venom. The antivenin is also referred to as anti-venom which means to oppose or against venom or poison. Antivenom is produced by injecting a small i.e. specific amount of a particular venom into an animal and then the animal starts producing antibodies in response to the venom. Then, the blood is drawn purified and is used to treat certain bites of insects and animals by poisonous or venomous organisms.
The institute that prepares antivenins is Hofkin, Mumbai.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A)

Note: Antivenoms can also have toxic effects on the body and so it is recommended only in case of high rate of toxicity. Some of the examples of antivenin are CroFab, Anascrap, Anavip, antivenin Latrodectus Mactans etc. Antivenins neutralize the poisonous venom and cause the release of venom from the receptor site.