Progress

Advancing Toxicology:

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The ResinTox Mission

At ResinTox, our mission is to empower the global toxicology community through cutting-edge software solutions, robust data, and rigorous evidence-based research. Guided by the principle of being ‘By People – For People’, we strive to bridge the gap between complex scientific data and the practical needs of healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, and corporations.

Pioneering Progress: The RAPID System

Our most significant breakthrough is the RAPID system (Rapid On-site Analyte-specific Peptide Intervention and Diversion), designed to revolutionise snakebite envenomation management. Traditionally, snakebite treatment has been hindered by diagnostic uncertainty and cold-chain logistics. Our four-pillar approach—combining on-site portable diagnostics, cloud-based AI analysis, and on-demand peptide synthesis—aims to provide personalised, life-saving care even in the most remote locations.

Tools for the Future

Beyond snakebite management, we are making strides in in-silico toxicology. The development of the ResinTox Toxicology Toolkit provides an all-in-one platform for symptom prediction and de novo molecule development. Whether we are conducting meta-analyses on the health effects of nicotine or investigating venom variability in Vipera berus, our commitment remains the same: ensuring that the highest standard of scientific evidence drives global decisions on chemical safety and public health.

The journey toward a safer, more informed world is well underway.

An Adder’s Bite, A Peptide’s Fight: A Framework for Peptide-Based Neutralisation of Vipera berus Phospholipase A₂

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There is a new Preprint available that is now undergoing peer review. You can read the draft and manuscript here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17514183

Abstract

Across Eurasia, envenomation by the common European adder, Vipera berus, presents a significant medical challenge, primarily driven by phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) enzymes. Traditional antivenom therapies are hampered by specificity, immunogenicity, and logistical limitations. This article, structured into distinct chapters, first establishes the biochemical challenge posed by Vipera berus venom and the central role of PLA₂. It then outlines a focused, structure-based strategy for designing synthetic peptide inhibitors that specifically target the primary toxic PLA₂ isoform in V. berus venom (UniProt: P31854). Drawing from successful precedents in inhibiting homologous viper and elapid PLA₂s, we propose a design blueprint for short peptides (5-7 amino acids) that function as high-affinity active site blockers. The proposed mechanism involves a hydrophobic peptide scaffold that anchors the inhibitor within the enzyme’s substrate-binding channel, combined with a strategically placed “warhead” residue (e.g., Tyrosine or Arginine) designed to form high-energy hydrogen bonds or salt bridges with the catalytic dyad (His48/Asp49). This approach effectively neutralises the enzyme’s toxic activity. The clinical translation of such designer peptides is made feasible by emerging on-demand manufacturing platforms, such as the RAPID system, which utilise rapid synthesis technologies to produce patient-specific therapeutics. This peptide-centric framework offers a pathway toward a new generation of precise, safe, and logistically robust antivenoms.

The Dust Settles:

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We’re Back with New Content!

Hello everyone,

It’s been a little quiet around here lately, and we wanted to break the silence. Thank you for your patience! For the past few months, we’ve been deep in project mode, pouring our energy into some exciting new ventures. It was an intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding period that required our full attention. While we had to press pause on creating new content for the site, the work behind the scenes has been anything but stagnant. We’ve been experimenting, learning, and pushing our boundaries. These projects have given us fresh perspectives and a wealth of new knowledge that we are incredibly excited to share with you. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve just published a batch of brand-new material, directly inspired by the lessons learned and techniques honed during our recent work.

What’s New?

We invite you to dive in and explore the latest additions:

  • Huggormar under 45 år, varav 40 har gått – A deep dive into the Swedish population of adders. This is something we grappled with extensively and we’re sharing the solutions we developed. The content is in Swedish language. [Link to the new content]
  • The Story of Snakebite – Check out our new tutorial on the history of snakebites and snakebite management. We’ve streamlined this process into an interactive web page and think you’ll find it incredibly useful. [Link to the new content]
  • A New Approach on Snakebites – We’ve also updated our portfolio with a look at the future of snakebite management. This piece showcases novel findings and how to approach an old problem with new methods. [Link to the new content]
  • An article on nanoparticles – We decided to publish an article that was started about a year ago, that was recently finished. It explains the paradoxical nature of substances and prove that size really do matter. [Link to the new content]
  • An infographic on Vipera berus venom – This infographic is a part of a bigger work, but it might be interesting to some. [Link to the new content]
  • As we also develop software – Software is meant to be used and some are meant to be tested first. We provide both working prototypes and fully functioning software solutions where possible. Most are not available to the public, for obvious reasons, but some will be and yet some others will be upon request. [Link to the new content]

This is just the beginning. The experiences from our recent projects have filled our notebooks with ideas, and we can’t wait to turn them into more articles, guides, and resources for you.

Thanks for sticking with us. It’s good to be back!

All the best,

The ResinTox Team

Decision has been made…

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… to make some tools available for limited use, during trial out. Terms and conditions will apply, and some tools are free and open to the public, other will require a registration with ResinTox, due to their Dual-Use nature. In some instances credentials from governmental or academic institutions are required to register for access to certain softwares and functions.

Springtime is Coming In the Northern Hemisphere

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Springtime is coming with warmer and longer days. This will also mean that the herpetofauna will slowly wake up. On Facebook, you can find a group dedicated to the wild reptiles and amphibians in Sweden. Every year the members post stories, pictures, and discussions. A lot of focus is on the snakes, but all other species of herpetological interest are welcome. You can look up the group named ‘Svenska Ormar’. This is also the biggest reptile group on Facebook in Swedish.

Scientists, specialists, professionals, biologists, and people within the herpetological society and associations are among those who keep the information factual and correct. The group is public and meant to be informative whereas everyone can ask any relevant question, or post a picture to share. Discussions are held mainly in Swedish, but English is welcome, and even though the automatic translation interface is not very good everyone should be able to follow discussions.

Every year the media scare the public and pour fuel on their fires. However, the group does a marvelous job when it comes to delivering balanced information about the risks, dangers, and identifications of the snake species.