![Professor Irina Vetter](/sites/default/files/profiles/1029.jpeg)
Overview
Background
I am an NHMRC Leadership Fellow with joint apointments at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and School of Pharmacy, UQ. My research interests lie in the fields of peripheral pain mechanisms, target identification and analgesic drug discovery. I investigate the contribution of ion channels to sensory neuronal physiology using highly subtype-selective toxins isolated from venomous animals with the aim to develop novel analgesics with improved efficacy and tolerability.
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Understanding pain pathways
Pain is a major medical and socio-economic issue affecting one in five Australians. Our research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind pain. The current focus of the lab is to use toxins from plants and venomous animals to understand the molecular pharmacology of pain. These toxins are highly selective for ion channels and receptors found in the sensory neurons that detect pain and can potentially be developed into novel analgesics. Our research also investigates the mechanisms contributing to chemotherapy-induced pain, cancer-associated pain, inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and the painful marine toxin disease known as ciguatera. To investigate the neuropharmacology of pain we use a range of techniques including: in vivo pain pathway characterisation, high-content imaging of cultured sensory neurons, high-throughput screening using calcium and membrane potential assays, and traditional pharmacological assays. While all pain has similar symptoms, it is becoming clear that the underlying mechanisms behind pain can vary. Our research has already challenged traditional understanding of pain pathways and sensory neuronal physiology. We work in collaboration with other leading Australian and international researchers to identify novel therapeutic pain pathways and targets. By uncovering these new pain pathways, as well as identifying novel targets on peripheral sensory neurons, we aim to develop more effective pain therapies that treat the underlying cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.
Works
Search Professor Irina Vetter’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Changes in potency and subtype selectivity of bivalent NaV toxins are knot-specific
Tran, Poanna, Tran, Hue N. T., McMahon, Kirsten L., Deuis, Jennifer R., Ragnarsson, Lotten, Norman, Alexander, Sharpe, Simon J., Payne, Richard J., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2023). Changes in potency and subtype selectivity of bivalent NaV toxins are knot-specific. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 34 (6), 1072-1083. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00135
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
A chemo-enzymatic approach to produce a cyclic analogue of the analgesic drug MVIIA (Ziconotide)
Zhou, Yan, Harvey, Peta J., Koehbach, Johannes, Chan, Lai Yue, Jones, Alun, Andersson, Åsa, Vetter, Irina, Durek, Thomas and Craik, David J. (2023). A chemo-enzymatic approach to produce a cyclic analogue of the analgesic drug MVIIA (Ziconotide). Angewandte Chemie, 62 (29) e202302812, e202302812. doi: 10.1002/anie.202302812
2023
Journal Article
Pain-causing stinging nettle toxins target TMEM233 to modulate NaV1.7 function
Jami, Sina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Klasfauseweh, Tabea, Cheng, Xiaoyang, Kurdyukov, Sergey, Chung, Felicity, Okorokov, Andrei L., Li, Shengnan, Zhang, Jiangtao, Cristofori-Armstrong, Ben, Israel, Mathilde R., Ju, Robert J., Robinson, Samuel D., Zhao, Peng, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Andersson, Åsa, Tran, Poanna, Schendel, Vanessa, McMahon, Kirsten L., Tran, Hue N. T., Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Zhu, Yifei, Liu, Junyu, Crawford, Theo, Purushothamvasan, Saipriyaa, Habib, Abdella M., Andersson, David A., Rash, Lachlan D., Wood, John N. ... Vetter, Irina (2023). Pain-causing stinging nettle toxins target TMEM233 to modulate NaV1.7 function. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 2442. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37963-2
2023
Journal Article
Pmu1a, a novel spider toxin with dual inhibitory activity at pain targets hNaV1.7 and hCaV3 voltage‐gated channels
Giribaldi, Julien, Chemin, Jean, Tuifua, Marie, Deuis, Jennifer R., Mary, Rosanna, Vetter, Irina, Wilson, David T., Daly, Norelle L., Schroeder, Christina I., Bourinet, Emmanuel and Dutertre, Sébastien (2023). Pmu1a, a novel spider toxin with dual inhibitory activity at pain targets hNaV1.7 and hCaV3 voltage‐gated channels. The FEBS Journal, 290 (14), 3688-3702. doi: 10.1111/febs.16773
2023
Journal Article
The voltage‐gated sodium channel NaV 1 .7 underlies endometriosis‐associated chronic pelvic pain
Castro, Joel, Maddern, Jessica, Chow, Chun Yuen, Tran, Poanna, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Brierley, Stuart M. (2023). The voltage‐gated sodium channel NaV 1 .7 underlies endometriosis‐associated chronic pelvic pain. Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15795
2023
Journal Article
A bivalent remipede toxin promotes calcium release via ryanodine receptor activation
Maxwell, Michael J., Thekkedam, Chris, Lamboley, Cedric, Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Crawford, Theo, Smith, Jennifer J., Liu, Junyu, Jia, Xinying, Vetter, Irina, Laver, Derek R., Launikonis, Bradley S., Dulhunty, Angela, Undheim, Eivind A. B. and Mobli, Mehdi (2023). A bivalent remipede toxin promotes calcium release via ryanodine receptor activation. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 1036, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36579-w
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
Anti-seizure mechanisms of midazolam and valproate at the β2(L51M) variant of the GABAA receptor
Kuanyshbek, Alibek, Wang, Meng, Andersson, Åsa, Tuifua, Marie, Palmer, Elizabeth E., Sachdev, Rani K., Mu, Ting-Wei, Vetter, Irina and Keramidas, Angelo (2022). Anti-seizure mechanisms of midazolam and valproate at the β2(L51M) variant of the GABAA receptor. Neuropharmacology, 221 109295, 109295. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109295
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
The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology
Starobova, Hana, Alshammari, Ammar, Winkler, Ingrid G. and Vetter, Irina (2022). The role of the neuronal microenvironment in sensory function and pain pathophysiology. Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15724
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Venom-derived pain-causing toxins: insights into sensory neuron function and pain mechanisms
Robinson, Samuel D., Deuis, Jennifer R., Klasfauseweh, Tabea, Schendel, Vanessa and Vetter, Irina (2022). Venom-derived pain-causing toxins: insights into sensory neuron function and pain mechanisms. Pain, 163 (S1), S46-S56. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002701
2022
Journal Article
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients
Tay, Nicolette, Laakso, E-Liisa, Schweitzer, Daniel, Endersby, Raelene, Vetter, Irina and Starobova, Hana (2022). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescent cancer patients. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9 1015746, 1015746. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1015746
2022
Journal Article
µ-Conotoxins targeting the human voltage-gated sodium channel subtype NaV1.7
McMahon, Kirsten L., Tran, Hue N. T., Deuis, Jennifer R., Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2022). µ-Conotoxins targeting the human voltage-gated sodium channel subtype NaV1.7. Toxins, 14 (9) 600, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/toxins14090600
2022
Journal Article
Neurotoxic and cytotoxic peptides underlie the painful stings of the tree nettle Urtica ferox
Xie, Jing, Robinson, Samuel D., Gilding, Edward K., Jami, Sina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Rehm, Fabian B.H., Yap, Kuok, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Chan, Lai Yue, Hamilton, Brett R., Harvey, Peta J., Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina and Durek, Thomas (2022). Neurotoxic and cytotoxic peptides underlie the painful stings of the tree nettle Urtica ferox. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298 (8) 102218, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102218
2022
Journal Article
Low potency inhibition of NaV1.7 by externally applied QX-314 via a depolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of activation
Klasfauseweh, Tabea, Israel, Mathilde R., Ragnarsson, Lotten, Cox, James J., Durek, Thomas, Carter, David A., Leffler, Andreas, Vetter, Irina and Deuis, Jennifer R. (2022). Low potency inhibition of NaV1.7 by externally applied QX-314 via a depolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of activation. European Journal of Pharmacology, 925 175013, 175013. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175013
2022
Journal Article
A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling
Stables, Jennifer, Green, Emma K., Sehgal, Anuj, Patkar, Omkar L., Keshvari, Sahar, Taylor, Isis, Ashcroft, Maisie E., Grabert, Kathleen, Wollscheid-Lengeling, Evi, Szymkowiak, Stefan, McColl, Barry W., Adamson, Antony, Humphreys, Neil E., Mueller, Werner, Starobova, Hana, Vetter, Irina, Shabestari, Sepideh Kiani, Blurton-Jones, Matthew M., Summers, Kim M., Irvine, Katharine M., Pridans, Clare and Hume, David A. (2022). A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling. Development, 149 (8) dev200237. doi: 10.1242/dev.200237
2022
Journal Article
A peptide toxin in ant venom mimics vertebrate EGF-like hormones to cause long-lasting hypersensitivity in mammals
Eagles, David A., Saez, Natalie J., Krishnarjuna, Bankala, Bradford, Julia J., Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Reichelt, Melissa E., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Norton, Raymond S., Thomas, Walter G., Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2022). A peptide toxin in ant venom mimics vertebrate EGF-like hormones to cause long-lasting hypersensitivity in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (7) e2112630119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2112630119
2022
Journal Article
Structural and functional insights into inhibition of human voltage-gated sodium channels by μ‐conotoxin KIIIA disulfide isomers
Tran, Hue N. T., McMahon, Kirsten L., Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2022). Structural and functional insights into inhibition of human voltage-gated sodium channels by μ‐conotoxin KIIIA disulfide isomers. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298 (3) 101728, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101728
2022
Journal Article
Multitarget nociceptor sensitization by a promiscuous peptide from the venom of the King Baboon spider
Finol-Urdaneta, Rocio K., Ziegman, Rebekah, Dekan, Zoltan, McArthur, Jeffrey R., Heitmann, Stewart, Luna-Ramirez, Karen, Tae, Han-Shen, Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Wingerd, Joshua S., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Cristofori-Armstrong, Ben, Hill, Adam P., Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F., Vetter, Irina, Rash, Lachlan D., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2022). Multitarget nociceptor sensitization by a promiscuous peptide from the venom of the King Baboon spider. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (5) e2110932119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2110932119
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating ion channel function and pathology using toxins as tools
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Angelo Keramidas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterisation of multi-valent peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the function of sodium channel accessory proteins to develop new treatments for chronic pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Accessing structurally elusive states of sodium channels as novel analgesic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Probing ion channel function using venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of new pain-causing toxins from animal venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using genomics to predict the mechanism-of-action of a chemical entity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sonia Shah
-
Doctor Philosophy
New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Dr Sam Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins as tools to understand sodium channel structure and function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary shifts in venom function and chemistry within Bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Dr Sam Robinson
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of peptides as gating modifiers to inhibit the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Probing the mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological neuronal excitability
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Novel heterodimeric ion channel modulators derived from conotoxins and spider toxins
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Master Philosophy
Investigating the role of the novel GABAA receptor variant, ß2(L51M), in the pathophysiology of epilepsy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a high-throughput pipeline for the discovery of NaV1.9 modulators from animal venoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering an optimized analgesic from the NaV1.7 selective spider venom peptide Pn3a
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the role of NaV1.6 in peripheral sensory neurons
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Identification of pain genes contributing to ciguatoxin-induced pain using haplotype-based computational genetic mapping in mice
Principal Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Establishment, optimization and characterization of a rat model of breast cancer induced bone pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith, Dr Andy Kuo
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Dr Fernanda Cardoso
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of venom-derived peptides that target acid-sensing ion channels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli, Dr Lachlan Rash
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and Diversification of the Anguimorphan Lizard Venom System
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of the function of peptide inhibitors targeting voltage-gated sodium channel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Solving painful problems: Developing potent and selective NaV channel inhibitors from animal venom
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising venom variation and antivenom effectiveness within the "True" vipers (Viperinae: Viperidae)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novelty in three-finger toxin evolution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins to elucidate the role of voltage-gated sodium channels in pain
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Professor Richard Lewis
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of Australian snake venoms on coagulation: Differential potency, biochemistry, and antivenom efficacy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
A Blood Bond: Evolutionary, Pathophysiological and Biodiscovery implications of coagulotoxic snake venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A philosophical and empirical investigation of the evolution of the toxicoferan reptile venom system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Professor Bryan Fry
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterization of NaV modulatory venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Lewis, Dr Lachlan Rash
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and Characterisation of Novel Analgesic Neurotoxins, hCav2.2 Channel inhibitors, from Cone Snail and Spider Venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Lewis, Dr Lotten Ragnarsson
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological characterisation of alpha-conopeptides with therapeutic potential
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Lewis
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Irina Vetter directly for media enquiries about:
- analgesics
- cancer
- cancer pain
- chemotherapy pain
- chronic pain
- ciguatera
- diabetes
- drug development
- drug discovery
- ion channels
- irritable bowel syndrome
- neuropathic pain
- neuropathy
- neuropharmacology
- toxins
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