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
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
Conference Publication
Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel D., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Lawrence, Nicole, Chin, Yanni, King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2022). Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins. Pathogens and Natural Toxins e-Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1 July - 31 August 2022.
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
Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide
Pinto, Ciro P.G., Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Chin, Yanni K.-Y, King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2021). Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide. Toxicon, 202, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.002
2021
Journal Article
A pain-causing and paralytic ant venom glycopeptide
Robinson, Samuel D., Kambanis, Lucas, Clayton, Daniel, Hinneburg, Hannes, Corcilius, Leo, Mueller, Alexander, Walker, Andrew A., Keramidas, Angelo, Kulkarni, Sameer S., Jones, Alun, Vetter, Irina, Thaysen-Andersen, Morten, Payne, Richard J., King, Glenn F. and Undheim, Eivind A.B. (2021). A pain-causing and paralytic ant venom glycopeptide. iScience, 24 (10) 103175, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103175
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
2021
Journal Article
Venom chemistry underlying the painful stings of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)
Jensen, Timo, Walker, Andrew A., Nguyen, Son H., Jin, Ai-Hua, Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F., Schmidt, Justin O. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2021). Venom chemistry underlying the painful stings of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 78 (12), 5163-5177. doi: 10.1007/s00018-021-03847-1
2021
Journal Article
Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Paluzzi, Jean-Paul V., Merritt, David J., Nixon, Samantha A., Schroeder, Christina I., Jin, Jiayi, Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Kotze, Andrew C., Dekan, Zoltan, Sombke, Andy, Alewood, Paul F., Fry, Bryan G., Epstein, Marc E., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2021). Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (18) 2023815118, e2023815118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023815118
2020
Journal Article
Crouching tiger, hidden protein: searching for insecticidal toxins in venom of the red tiger assassin bug (Havinthus rufovarius)
Wait, Laura C., Walker, Andrew A. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Crouching tiger, hidden protein: searching for insecticidal toxins in venom of the red tiger assassin bug (Havinthus rufovarius). Toxins, 13 (1) 3, 3. doi: 10.3390/toxins13010003
2020
Journal Article
Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency
Peschel, Alicia, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., Durek, Thomas, Stone, M Rhia L., Braga Emidio, Nayara, Dawson, Philip E., Muttenthaler, Markus and King, Glenn F. (2020). Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (21), 12773-12785. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107
2020
Journal Article
Varespladib (LY315920) neutralises phospholipase A2 mediated prothrombinase-inhibition induced by Bitis snake venoms
Youngman, Nicholas J., Walker, Andrew, Naude, Arno, Coster, Kristian, Sundman, Eric and Fry, Bryan G. (2020). Varespladib (LY315920) neutralises phospholipase A2 mediated prothrombinase-inhibition induced by Bitis snake venoms. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology, 236 108818, 108818. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108818
2020
Journal Article
Deadly proteomes: a practical guide to proteotranscriptomics of animal venoms
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Hamilton, Brett F., Undheim, Eivind A. B. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Deadly proteomes: a practical guide to proteotranscriptomics of animal venoms. Proteomics, 20 (17-18) 1900324, e1900324. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201900324
2020
Journal Article
The evolutionary dynamics of venom toxins made by insects and other animals
Walker, Andrew A. (2020). The evolutionary dynamics of venom toxins made by insects and other animals. Biochemical Society Transactions, 48 (4), 1353-1365. doi: 10.1042/bst20190820
2020
Journal Article
Weaponisation ‘on the fly’: convergent recruitment of knottin and defensin peptide scaffolds into the venom of predatory assassin flies
Jin, Jiayi, Agwa, Akello J., Szanto, Tibor G., Csóti, Agota, Panyi, Gyorgy, Schroeder, Christina I., Walker, Andrew A. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Weaponisation ‘on the fly’: convergent recruitment of knottin and defensin peptide scaffolds into the venom of predatory assassin flies. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 118 103310, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103310
2020
Conference Publication
Discovery and characterisation of novel peptides from Amazonian stinging ant venoms with antiparasitic activity
Nixon, Samantha, Agwa, Akello, Robinson, Sam, Walker, Andrew, Touchard, Axel, Schroeder, Christina, Vetter, Irina, Kotze, Andrew C., Herzig, Volker and King, Glenn F. (2020). Discovery and characterisation of novel peptides from Amazonian stinging ant venoms with antiparasitic activity. 20th World Congress of the International-Society-on-Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier.
2019
Journal Article
Venom peptides with dual modulatory activity on the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.1 provide novel leads for development of antiepileptic drugs
Chow, Chun Yuen, Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Walker, Andrew A., Guo, Shaodong, Blomster, Linda V., Ward, Micaiah J., Herzig, Volker, Rokyta, Darin R. and King, Glenn F. (2019). Venom peptides with dual modulatory activity on the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.1 provide novel leads for development of antiepileptic drugs. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 3 (1) acsptsci.9b00079, 119-134. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.9b00079
2019
Journal Article
Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Jin, Jiayi, Han, Xiao, Fry, Bryan G., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2019). Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus. Toxins, 11 (11) 673, 673. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110673
2018
Journal Article
Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae)
Walker, Andrew, Dobson, James, Jin, Jiayi, Robinson, Samuel, Herzig, Volker, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn and Fry, Bryan (2018). Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae). Toxins, 10 (11) 456, 456. doi: 10.3390/toxins10110456
2018
Journal Article
Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Yeates, David K., Jin, Jiayi, Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2018). Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms. Toxicon: official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 154, 15-27. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.09.004
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Andrew Walker is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
Evolution and function of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
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Doctor Philosophy
Alpha-gal synthesis in the salivary glands of the Australian eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus
Principal Advisor
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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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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the production, composition, and function of venom produced by the box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri and the Irukandji jellyfish Carukia barnesi
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Glenn King
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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: Professor Nathan Palpant, 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
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Bryan Fry
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the production, composition, and function of venom produced by the box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri and the Irukandji jellyfish Carukia barnesi
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Glenn King
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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
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
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
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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