Overview
Background
My research interests are centred around the structure and function of venom and silk polypeptides produced by arthropods, and their use in biotechnology and medicine. I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the King laboratory in the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Australia. Currently, I am investigating the composition, function and evolution of neglected insect venoms produced by assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) and nettle caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae).
Availability
- Dr Andrew Walker is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Australian National University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Research interests
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Evolution of venom systems
Venom use has evolved >100 times across the tree of life. Venom systems are the subject of increasing attention for studies of molecular evolution, trait evolution, pharmacology, drug discovery, and toxinology.
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Silk processing and evolution, production of artificial silks
Silks are protein supermaterials made by arthropods. The production of artificial silks in the laboratory (for example using recombinant arthropod silk proteins expressed in bacteria) has the potential to deliver new smart protein materials with tunable properties and green chemistry.
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Uniting omics technologies
Mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing of RNA and DNA have undergone rapid improvements in sensitivity and decrease in cost. Integrating these new technologies offers a powerful platform for biodiscovery and experimentation.
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Biodiscovery from insects
Insects are the most diverse class, probably accounting for the majority of eukaryotic species and containing many novel evolutionary innovations. This diversity can be harnessed for the biodiscovery of new molecules with applications in research, biotechnology, and medicine.
Works
Search Professor Andrew Walker’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Venomic adaptations of prey specialised spiders
Michálek, Ondřej, Walker, Andrew A., Šedo, Ondrej, Zdráhal, Zbyněk, King, Glenn F. and Pekár, Stano (2024). Venomic adaptations of prey specialised spiders. Toxicon, 248 107976, 107976. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107976
2024
Journal Article
Venom exaptation and adaptation during the trophic switch to blood-feeding by kissing bugs
Zdenek, Christina N., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Robinson, Samuel D., Mercedes, Raine S., Raidjõe, Enriko R., Hernandez-Vargas, María José, Jin, Jiayi, Corzo, Gerardo, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F., Fry, Bryan G. and Walker, Andrew A. (2024). Venom exaptation and adaptation during the trophic switch to blood-feeding by kissing bugs. iScience, 27 (9) 110723, 110723. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110723
2024
Journal Article
Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel D., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Mitchell, Michela L., Cook, Lyn G., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2024). Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 14172, 14172. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65078-1
2024
Journal Article
Structure and bioactivity of an insecticidal trans-defensin from assassin bug venom
Walker, Andrew A., Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Guo, Shaodong, Jin, Jiayi, Wilbrink, Evienne, Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Wirth, Hayden, Gordon, Eric, Weirauch, Christiane and King, Glenn F. (2024). Structure and bioactivity of an insecticidal trans-defensin from assassin bug venom. Structure, 32 (9), 1348-1357.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2024.05.016
2024
Journal Article
Look but do not touch: the occurrence of venomous species across Lepidoptera
Battisti, Andrea, Walker, Andre.A., Uemura, Mizuki, Zalucki, Myron.P., Brinquin, Anne-Sophie, Caparros-Megidos, Rudy, Gachet, Emmanuel, Kerdelhué, Carole and Desneux, Nicolas (2024). Look but do not touch: the occurrence of venomous species across Lepidoptera. Entomologia Generalis, 44 (1), 29-39. doi: 10.1127/entomologia/2023/2295
2023
Journal Article
Proteome of urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, a processionary caterpillar of medical and veterinary importance, including primary structures of putative toxins
Walker, Andrew A., Perkins, Lynda E., Battisti, Andrea, Zalucki, Myron P. and King, Glenn F. (2023). Proteome of urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, a processionary caterpillar of medical and veterinary importance, including primary structures of putative toxins. Proteomics, 23 (20) 2300204, e2300204. doi: 10.1002/pmic.202300204
2023
Journal Article
Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities of inhibitor cystine knot peptides produced by teratocytes of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Pinto, Ciro P. G., Walker, Andrew A., King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2023). Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities of inhibitor cystine knot peptides produced by teratocytes of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Science, 30 (4), 1105-1117. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.13154
2023
Journal Article
Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Merritt, David J., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Mercedes, Raine S., Eagles, David A., Cooper, Paul, Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Hall, Donald W., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2023). Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (29) e2305871120, e2305871120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2305871120
2023
Journal Article
Venom composition and bioactive RF-amide peptide toxins of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Eagles, David A., Lim, Junxian, Biggs, Kimberley A., Kotze, Andrew C., Ruffell, Angela P., Fairlie, David P., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2023). Venom composition and bioactive RF-amide peptide toxins of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae). Biochemical Pharmacology, 213 115598, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115598
2023
Journal Article
Two novel mosquitocidal peptides isolated from the venom of the Bahia scarlet tarantula (Lasiodora klugi)
Ahmed, Jamila, Walker, Andrew A., Perdomo, Hugo D., Guo, Shaodong, Nixon, Samantha A., Vetter, Irina, Okoh, Hilary I., Shehu, Dalhatu M., Shuaibu, Mohammed N., Ndams, Iliya S., King, Glenn F. and Herzig, Volker (2023). Two novel mosquitocidal peptides isolated from the venom of the Bahia scarlet tarantula (Lasiodora klugi). Toxins, 15 (7) 418, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/toxins15070418
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Ant venoms contain vertebrate-selective pain-causing sodium channel toxins
Robinson, Samuel D., Deuis, Jennifer R., Touchard, Axel, Keramidas, Angelo, Mueller, Alexander, Schroeder, Christina I., Barassé, Valentine, Walker, Andrew A., Brinkwirth, Nina, Jami, Sina, Bonnafé, Elsa, Treilhou, Michel, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Schmidt, Justin O., King, Glenn F. and Vetter, Irina (2023). Ant venoms contain vertebrate-selective pain-causing sodium channel toxins. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 2977, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38839-1
2023
Journal Article
The predatory stink bug Arma custos (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) produces a complex proteinaceous venom to overcome caterpillar prey
Qu, Yuli, Walker, Andrew A., Meng, Ling, Herzig, Volker and Li, Baoping (2023). The predatory stink bug Arma custos (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) produces a complex proteinaceous venom to overcome caterpillar prey. Biology, 12 (5) 691. doi: 10.3390/biology12050691
2023
Journal Article
Holistic profiling of the venom from the Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics
Cardoso, F. C., Walker, A. A., King, G. F. and Gomez, M. V. (2023). Holistic profiling of the venom from the Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 10 1069764, 1069764. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1069764
2023
Journal Article
Intra-colony venom diversity contributes to maintaining eusociality in a cooperatively breeding ant
Robinson, Samuel D., Schendel, Vanessa, Schroeder, Christina I., Moen, Sarah, Mueller, Alexander, Walker, Andrew A., McKinnon, Naomi, Neely, G. Gregory, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Undheim, Eivind A. B. (2023). Intra-colony venom diversity contributes to maintaining eusociality in a cooperatively breeding ant. BMC Biology, 21 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s12915-022-01507-9
2022
Journal Article
Composition and toxicity of venom produced by araneophagous white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.)
Michálek, Ondřej, Walker, Andrew A., Šedo, Ondrej, Zdráhal, Zbyněk, King, Glenn F. and Pekár, Stano (2022). Composition and toxicity of venom produced by araneophagous white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.). Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 21597, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24694-5
2022
Journal Article
Venom composition and pain-causing toxins of the Australian great carpenter bee Xylocopa aruana
Shi, Naiqi, Szanto, Tibor G., He, Jia, Schroeder, Christina I., Walker, Andrew A., Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Panyi, György, King, Glenn F. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2022). Venom composition and pain-causing toxins of the Australian great carpenter bee Xylocopa aruana. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 22168, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26867-8
2022
Journal Article
Holistic profiling of the venom from the lethal spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., King, Glenn F. and Gomez, Marcus V. (2022). Holistic profiling of the venom from the lethal spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics.
2022
Journal Article
Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas
Youngman, Nicholas J., Llinas, Joshua, Haworth, Mark, Gillett, Amber, Jones, Lee, Walker, Andrew A. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas. Toxicon, 216, 37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.012
2022
Journal Article
Proteotranscriptomics reveals the secretory dynamics of teratocytes, regulators of parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp
Pinto, Ciro P.G., Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2022). Proteotranscriptomics reveals the secretory dynamics of teratocytes, regulators of parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp. Journal of Insect Physiology, 139 104395, 104395. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104395
2021
Journal Article
Multipurpose peptides: the venoms of Amazonian stinging ants contain anthelmintic ponericins with diverse predatory and defensive activities
Nixon, Samantha A., Robinson, Samuel D., Agwa, Akello J., Walker, Andrew A., Choudhary, Shivani, Touchard, Axel, Undheim, Eivind A.B., Robertson, Alan, Vetter, Irina, Schroeder, Christina I., Kotze, Andrew C., Herzig, Volker and King, Glenn F. (2021). Multipurpose peptides: the venoms of Amazonian stinging ants contain anthelmintic ponericins with diverse predatory and defensive activities. Biochemical Pharmacology, 192 114693. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114693
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Andrew Walker is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Utilising invertebrates to identify novel coagulotoxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry, Professor Glenn King
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Master Philosophy
Pharmacological screening of Columbian scorpion venoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the Structure and Function of Caterpillar Venom Toxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
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Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary and clinical implications of differential pathophysiological effects of rattlesnake venoms upon blood coagulation, cell function, and nerve transmission.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in American pit vipers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in New World pit vipers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Bryan Fry
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Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary shifts in venom function and chemistry within Bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter, Dr Sam Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
Identifying the structure, function, and mechanism of action of cardiotoxic components in the venoms of box (Chironex fleckeri) and Irukandji (Carukia barnesi) jellyfish
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Glenn King
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Coagulotoxicity and neurotoxicity variation in Bitis venoms: Evolutionary, pathophysiological and biodiscovery implications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Co-Evolutionary Dynamics of alpha-Neurotoxic Snake Venoms and their Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Andrew Walker directly for media enquiries about:
- assassin bugs
- caterpillars
- silk
- venom
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