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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
2018
Journal Article
Harvesting venom toxins from assassin bugs and other heteropteran insects
Walker, Andrew Allan, Rosenthal, Max, Undheim, Eivind E. A. and King, Glenn F (2018). Harvesting venom toxins from assassin bugs and other heteropteran insects. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2018 (134) e57729. doi: 10.3791/57729
2018
Journal Article
The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens
Walker, Andrew A., Mayhew, Mark L., Jin, Jiayi, Herzig, Volker, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Sombke, Andy, Fry, Bryan G., Meritt, David J. and King, Glenn F. (2018). The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 755, 755. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03091-5
2018
Journal Article
Giant fish-killing water bug reveals ancient and dynamic venom evolution in Heteroptera
Walker, Andrew A., Hernández-Vargas, Maria José, Corzo, Gerardo, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2018). Giant fish-killing water bug reveals ancient and dynamic venom evolution in Heteroptera. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 75 (17), 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00018-018-2768-1
2017
Journal Article
Melt with this kiss: paralyzing and liquefying venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Walker, Andrew A. , Madio, Bruno, Jin, Jiayi, Undheim, Eivind A. B. , Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2017). Melt with this kiss: paralyzing and liquefying venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 16 (4), 552-566. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M116.063321
2016
Journal Article
Venoms of heteropteran insects: a treasure trove of diverse pharmacological toolkits
Walker, Andrew A., Weirauch, Christiane, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2016). Venoms of heteropteran insects: a treasure trove of diverse pharmacological toolkits. Toxins, 8 (2) 43, 43. doi: 10.3390/toxins8020043
2015
Journal Article
The other prey-capture silk: fibres made by glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae) comprise cross-β-sheet crystallites in an abundant amorphous fraction
Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Trueman, Holly E., Merritt, David J. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2015). The other prey-capture silk: fibres made by glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae) comprise cross-β-sheet crystallites in an abundant amorphous fraction. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 187, 78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.05.008
2015
Journal Article
More than one way to spin a crystallite: multiple trajectories through liquid crystallinity to solid silk
Walker, Andrew A., Holland, Chris and Sutherland, Tara D. (2015). More than one way to spin a crystallite: multiple trajectories through liquid crystallinity to solid silk. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282 (1809) 20150259, 1-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0259
2014
Journal Article
A comparison of convergently evolved insect silks that share β-sheet molecular structure
Church, Jeffrey S., Woodhead, Andrea L., Walker, Andrew A. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2014). A comparison of convergently evolved insect silks that share β-sheet molecular structure. Biopolymers, 101 (6), 630-639. doi: 10.1002/bip.22431
2014
Book Chapter
Evolution and application of coiled coil silks from insects
Kameda, Tsunenori, Walker, Andrew A. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2014). Evolution and application of coiled coil silks from insects. Biotechnology of silk. (pp. 87-106) edited by Tetsuo Asakura and Thomas Miller. Dordrecht The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7119-2_5
2014
Journal Article
Convergently-evolved structural anomalies in the coiled coil domains of insect silk proteins
Sutherland, Tara D., Trueman, Holly E., Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Campbell, Peter M., Dong, Zhaoming, Huson, Mickey G., Woodhead, Andrea L. and Church, Jeffrey S. (2014). Convergently-evolved structural anomalies in the coiled coil domains of insect silk proteins. Journal of Structural Biology, 186 (3), 402-411. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2014.01.002
2013
Journal Article
Micellar refolding of coiled-coil honeybee silk proteins
Walker, Andrew A., Warden, Andrew C., Trueman, Holly E., Weisman, Sarah and Sutherland, Tara D. (2013). Micellar refolding of coiled-coil honeybee silk proteins. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 1 (30), 3644-3651. doi: 10.1039/c3tb20611d
2013
Journal Article
A new class of animal collagen masquerading as an insect silk
Sutherland, Tara D., Peng, Yong Y., Trueman, Holly E., Weisman, Sarah, Okada, Shoko, Walker, Andrew A., Sriskantha, Alagacone, White, Jacinta F., Huson, Mickey G., Werkmeister, Jerome A., Glattauer, Veronica, Stoichevska, Violet, Mudie, Stephen T., Haritos, Victoria S. and Ramshaw, John A. M. (2013). A new class of animal collagen masquerading as an insect silk. Scientific Reports, 3 (1) 2864. doi: 10.1038/srep02864
2013
Journal Article
Silverfish silk is formed by entanglement of randomly coiled protein chains
Walker, Andrew A., Church, Jeffrey S., Woodhead, Andrea L. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2013). Silverfish silk is formed by entanglement of randomly coiled protein chains. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43 (7), 572-579. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.03.014
2012
Journal Article
Natural templates for coiled-coil biomaterials from praying mantis egg cases
Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Kameda, Tsunenori and Sutherland, Tara D. (2012). Natural templates for coiled-coil biomaterials from praying mantis egg cases. Biomacromolecules, 13 (12), 4264-4272. doi: 10.1021/bm301570v
2012
Journal Article
Silk from crickets: a new twist on spinning
Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Church, Jeffrey S., Merritt, David J., Mudie, Stephen T. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2012). Silk from crickets: a new twist on spinning. Plos One, 7 (2) e30408, e30408-1-e30408-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030408
2012
Journal Article
Invited review: The coiled coil silk of bees, ants, and hornets
Sutherland, Tara D., Weisman, Sarah, Walker, Andrew A. and Mudie, Stephen T. (2012). Invited review: The coiled coil silk of bees, ants, and hornets. Biopolymers, 97 (6), 446-454. doi: 10.1002/bip.21702
2010
Journal Article
The Ig-like domain of human GM-CSF receptor α plays a critical role in cytokine binding and receptor activation
Mirza, Shamaruh, Walker, Adrew, Chen, Jinglong, Murphy, James M. and Young, Ian G. (2010). The Ig-like domain of human GM-CSF receptor α plays a critical role in cytokine binding and receptor activation. Biochemical Journal, 426 (3), 307-317. doi: 10.1042/BJ20091745
2009
Journal Article
A new isoform of interleukin-3 receptor α with novel differentiation activity and high affinity binding mode
Chen, Jinglong, Olsen, Jane, Ford, Sally, Mirza, Shamaruh, Walker, Andrew, Murphy, Jame M. and Young, Ian G. (2009). A new isoform of interleukin-3 receptor α with novel differentiation activity and high affinity binding mode. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284 (9), 5763-5773. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M808197200
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
-
Master Philosophy
Pharmacological screening of Columbian scorpion venoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the Structure and Function of Caterpillar Venom Toxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and function of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
-
Doctor Philosophy
Alpha-gal synthesis in the salivary glands of the Australian eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising invertebrates to identify novel coagulotoxins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry, Professor Glenn King
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in American pit vipers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Bryan Fry
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in New World pit vipers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Bryan Fry
-
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Bryan Fry
-
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
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Coagulotoxicity and neurotoxicity variation in Bitis venoms: Evolutionary, pathophysiological and biodiscovery implications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: