
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
2021
Journal Article
The zebrafish mutant uncovers an evolutionarily conserved role for Tmem161b in the control of cardiac rhythm
Koopman, Charlotte D., De Angelis, Jessica, Iyer, Swati P., Verkerk, Arie O., Da Silva, Jason, Berecki, Geza, Jeanes, Angela, Baillie, Gregory J., Paterson, Scott, Uribe, Veronica, Ehrlich, Ophelia V., Robinson, Samuel D., Garric, Laurence, Petrou, Steven, Simons, Cas, Vetter, Irina, Hogan, Benjamin M., de Boer, Teun P., Bakkers, Jeroen and Smith, Kelly A. (2021). The zebrafish mutant uncovers an evolutionarily conserved role for Tmem161b in the control of cardiac rhythm. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (9) e2018220118, e2018220118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2018220118
2021
Conference Publication
Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2
Hasan, Mahadhi, Abraham, Nikita, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten, Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Subcutaneous analgesic actions and mode of action of binding of ω-conotoxins at Cav2.2. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15 - 19 March 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Subcutaneous ω-conotoxins alleviate mechanical pain in rodent models of acute peripheral neuropathy
Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Starobova, Hana, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Subcutaneous ω-conotoxins alleviate mechanical pain in rodent models of acute peripheral neuropathy. Marine Drugs, 19 (2) 106, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/md19020106
2021
Journal Article
Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras
Kazandjian, T. D., Petras, D., Robinson, S. D., van Thiel, J., Greene, H. W., Arbuckle, K., Barlow, A., Carter, D. A., Wouters, R. M., Whiteley, G., Wagstaff, S. C., Arias, A. S., Albulescu, L.-O., Plettenberg Laing, A., Hall, C., Heap, A., Penrhyn-Lowe, S., McCabe, C. V., Ainsworth, S., da Silva, R. R., Dorrestein, P. C., Richardson, M. K., Gutiérrez, J. M., Calvete, J. J., Harrison, R. A., Vetter, I., Undheim, E. A. B., Wüster, W. and Casewell, N. R. (2021). Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. Science, 371 (6527), 386-390. doi: 10.1126/science.abb9303
2021
Journal Article
Small cyclic sodium channel inhibitors
Peigneur, Steve, da Costa Oliveira, Cristina, de Sousa Fonseca, Flávia Cristina, McMahon, Kirsten L., Mueller, Alexander, Cheneval, Olivier, Cristina Nogueira Freitas, Ana, Starobova, Hana, Dimitri Gama Duarte, Igor, Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina, de Lima, Maria Elena, Schroeder, Christina I. and Tytgat, Jan (2021). Small cyclic sodium channel inhibitors. Biochemical Pharmacology, 183 114291, 114291. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114291
2020
Journal Article
Pharmacology and therapeutic potential of venom peptides
Robinson, Samuel D. and Vetter, Irina (2020). Pharmacology and therapeutic potential of venom peptides. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114207, 114207. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114207
2020
Journal Article
Discovery, pharmacological characterisation and NMR structure of the novel µ-Conotoxin SxIIIC, a potent and irreversible NaV channel inhibitor
McMahon, Kirsten L., Tran, Hue N.T., Deuis, Jennifer R., Lewis, Richard J., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2020). Discovery, pharmacological characterisation and NMR structure of the novel µ-Conotoxin SxIIIC, a potent and irreversible NaV channel inhibitor. Biomedicines, 8 (10) 391, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8100391
2020
Journal Article
Australian funnel-web spiders evolved human-lethal δ-hexatoxins for defense against vertebrate predators
Herzig, Volker, Sunagar, Kartik, Wilson, David T. R., Pineda, Sandy S., Israel, Mathilde R., Dutertre, Sebastien, McFarland, Brianna Sollod, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Hodgson, Wayne C., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J., Bosmans, Frank, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Fry, Bryan G. (2020). Australian funnel-web spiders evolved human-lethal δ-hexatoxins for defense against vertebrate predators. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (40), 24920-24928. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2004516117
2020
Journal Article
Neurotoxic peptides from the venom of the giant Australian stinging tree
Gilding, Edward K., Jami, Sina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Israel, Mathilde R., Harvey, Peta J., Poth, Aaron G., Rehm, Fabian B. H., Stow, Jennifer L., Robinson, Samuel D., Yap, Kuok, Brown, Darren L., Hamilton, Brett R., Andersson, David, Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina and Durek, Thomas (2020). Neurotoxic peptides from the venom of the giant Australian stinging tree. Science Advances, 6 (38) eabb8828, 1-10. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb8828
2020
Journal Article
The NLRP3 inflammasome: role and therapeutic potential in pain treatment
Starobova, Hana, Nadar, Evelyn Israel and Vetter, Irina (2020). The NLRP3 inflammasome: role and therapeutic potential in pain treatment. Frontiers in Physiology, 11 1016, 1016. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01016
2020
Journal Article
Recombinant production, bioconjugation and membrane binding studies ofPn3a, a selective Nav1.7 inhibitor
Sharma, Gagan, Deuis, Jennifer R., Jia, Xinying, Mueller, Alexander, Vetter, Irina and Mobli, Mehdi (2020). Recombinant production, bioconjugation and membrane binding studies ofPn3a, a selective Nav1.7 inhibitor. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114148, 114148. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114148
2020
Journal Article
It takes two: dimerization is essential for the broad-spectrum predatory and defensive activities of the venom peptide Mp1a from the jack jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula
Nixon, Samantha A., Dekan, Zoltan, Robinson, Samuel D., Guo, Shaodong, Vetter, Irina, Kotze, Andrew C., Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F. and Herzig, Volker (2020). It takes two: dimerization is essential for the broad-spectrum predatory and defensive activities of the venom peptide Mp1a from the jack jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula. Biomedicines, 8 (7) 185, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8070185
2020
Journal Article
Characterization of synthetic Tf2 as a NaV1.3 selective pharmacological probe
Israel, Mathilde R., Dash, Thomas S., Bothe, Stefanie N., Robinson, Samuel D., Deuis, Jennifer R., Craik, David J., Lampert, Angelika, Vetter, Irina and Durek, Thomas (2020). Characterization of synthetic Tf2 as a NaV1.3 selective pharmacological probe. Biomedicines, 8 (6) 155, 155. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8060155
2020
Journal Article
Pharmacological activity and NMR solution structure of the leech peptide HSTX-I
McMahon, Kirsten L., Tay, Bryan, Deuis, Jennifer R., Tanaka, Brian S., Peigneur, Steve, Jin, Ai-Hua, Tytgat, Jan, Waxman, Stephen G., Dib-Hajj, Sulayman D., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2020). Pharmacological activity and NMR solution structure of the leech peptide HSTX-I. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114082, 114082. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114082
2020
Journal Article
An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the venom complexity of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata
Aili, Samira R., Touchard, Axel, Hayward, Regan, Robinson, Samuel D., Pineda, Sandy S., Lalagüe, Hadrien, Mrinalini, Vetter, Irina, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Kini, R. Manjunatha, Escoubas, Pierre, Padula, Matthew P., Myers, Garry S. A. and Nicholson, Graham M. (2020). An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the venom complexity of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata. Toxins, 12 (5) 324, 1-30. doi: 10.3390/toxins12050324
2020
Journal Article
Characterisation of a novel a-superfamily conotoxin
Wilson, David T., Bansal, Paramjit S., Carter, David A., Vetter, Irina, Nicke, Annette, Dutertre, Sébastien and Daly, Norelle L. (2020). Characterisation of a novel a-superfamily conotoxin. Biomedicines, 8 (5) 128, 128. doi: 10.3390/BIOMEDICINES8050128
2020
Journal Article
Manipulation of a spider peptide toxin alters its affinity for lipid bilayers and potency and selectivity for voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7
Agwa, Akello J., Tran, Poanna, Mueller, Alexander, Tran, Hue N. T., Deuis, Jennifer R., Israel, Mathilde R., McMahon, Kirsten L., Craik, David J., Vetter, Irina and Schroeder, Christina I. (2020). Manipulation of a spider peptide toxin alters its affinity for lipid bilayers and potency and selectivity for voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295 (15), 5067-5080. doi: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.012281
2020
Journal Article
NaV1.1 and NaV1.6 selective compounds reduce the behavior phenotype and epileptiform activity in a novel zebrafish model for Dravet syndrome
Weuring, Wout J., Singh, Sakshi, Volkers, Linda, Rook, Martin B., Van't Slot, Ruben H., Bosma, Marjolein, Inserra, Marco, Vetter, Irina, Verhoeven-Duif, Nanda M., Braun, Kees P. J., Rivara, Mirko and Koeleman, Bobby P. C. (2020). NaV1.1 and NaV1.6 selective compounds reduce the behavior phenotype and epileptiform activity in a novel zebrafish model for Dravet syndrome. PLoS ONE, 15 (3) e0219106, e0219106. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219106
2020
Journal Article
Mapping the molecular surface of the analgesic NaV1.7-selective peptide Pn3a reveals residues essential for membrane and channel interactions
Mueller, Alexander, Dekan, Zoltan, Kaas, Quentin, Agwa, Akello J., Starobova, Hana, Alewood, Paul F., Schroeder, Christina I., Mobli, Mehdi, Deuis, Jennifer R. and Vetter, Irina (2020). Mapping the molecular surface of the analgesic NaV1.7-selective peptide Pn3a reveals residues essential for membrane and channel interactions. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00002
2020
Journal Article
Addition of K22 converts spider venom peptide Pme2a from an activator to an inhibitor of NaV1.7
Yin, Kathleen, Deuis, Jennifer R., Dekan, Zoltan, Jin, Ai-Hua, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F., Herzig, Volker and Vetter, Irina (2020). Addition of K22 converts spider venom peptide Pme2a from an activator to an inhibitor of NaV1.7. Biomedicines, 8 (2) 37, 37. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8020037
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of bivalency in disulfide-rich peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating ion channel function and pathology using toxins as tools
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Angelo Keramidas
-
Master Philosophy
Using peptide toxins to understand the nociceptor signallosome
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
Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
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Master Philosophy
Neuro-immune mechanisms of peripheral neuropathy: a novel target offering new prevention and treatment strategies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
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
Chemotherapy-induced motor neuropathy: towards improved understanding of motor neuron dysfunction during chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of novel family of voltage-gated sodium channel toxins from ant venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Accessing structurally elusive states of sodium channels as novel analgesic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using genomics to predict the mechanism-of-action of a chemical entity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah
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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
Probing ion channel function using venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
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
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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
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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
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the role of NaV1.6 in peripheral sensory neurons
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek
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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
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Dr Fernanda Cardoso
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of venom-derived peptides that target acid-sensing ion channels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli, Dr Lachlan Rash
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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
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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
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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
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A Blood Bond: Evolutionary, Pathophysiological and Biodiscovery implications of coagulotoxic snake venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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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
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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
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterization of NaV modulatory venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological characterisation of alpha-conopeptides with therapeutic potential
Associate Advisor
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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