
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
2014
Journal Article
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of two opioid agonist and Cav2.2 blocker multitarget ligands
Mollica, Adriano, Costante, Roberto, Novellino, Ettore, Stefanucci, Azzurra, Pieretti, Stefano, Zador, Ferenc, Samavati, Reza, Borsodi, Anna, Benyhe, Sandor, Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2014). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of two opioid agonist and Cav2.2 blocker multitarget ligands. Chemical Biology and Drug Design, 86 (2), 156-162. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.12479
2014
Journal Article
Ciguatera fish poisoning: a first epidemic in Germany highlights an increasing risk for European countries
Mattei, Cesar, Vetter, Irina, Eisenblatter, Anneka, Krock, Bernd, Ebbecke, Martin, Desel, Herbert and Zimmermann, Katharina (2014). Ciguatera fish poisoning: a first epidemic in Germany highlights an increasing risk for European countries. Toxicon, 91 (2), 76-83. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.10.016
2014
Conference Publication
AMTB, an inhibitor of calcium permeable ion channel TRPM8 and its effect on breast cancer cells
Yapa, K., Peters, A. A., Vetter, I., Roberts-Thomson, S. J. and Monteith, G. R. (2014). AMTB, an inhibitor of calcium permeable ion channel TRPM8 and its effect on breast cancer cells. FEBS EMBO 2014 Conference, Paris, France, 30 August - 4 September 2014 . Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2014
Journal Article
No gain, no pain: NaV1.7 as an analgesic target
King, Glenn F and Vetter, Irina (2014). No gain, no pain: NaV1.7 as an analgesic target. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, Articles ASAP (9), 749-751. doi: 10.1021/cn500171p
2014
Journal Article
2-nitroveratryl as a photocleavable thiol-protecting group for directed disulfide bond formation in the chemical synthesis of insulin.
Karas, John A., Scanlon, Denis B., Forbes, Briony E., Vetter, Irina, Lewis, Richard J., Gardiner, James, Separovic, Frances, Wade, John D. and Hossain, Mohammed A. (2014). 2-nitroveratryl as a photocleavable thiol-protecting group for directed disulfide bond formation in the chemical synthesis of insulin.. Chemistry: A European Journal, 20 (31), 9549-9552. doi: 10.1002/chem.201403574
2014
Journal Article
Isolation and structural and pharmacological characterization of α-elapitoxin-Dpp2d, an amidated three finger toxin from black mamba venom
Wang, Ching-I Anderson, Reeks, Timothy, Vetter, Irina, Vergara, Irene, Kovtun, Oleksiy, Lewis, Richard J., Alewood, Paul F. and Durek, Thomas (2014). Isolation and structural and pharmacological characterization of α-elapitoxin-Dpp2d, an amidated three finger toxin from black mamba venom. Biochemistry, 53 (23), 3758-3766. doi: 10.1021/bi5004475
2014
Journal Article
A ray of venom: Combined proteomic and transcriptomic investigation of fish venom composition using barb tissue from the blue-spotted stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii)
Baumann, Kate, Casewell, Nicholas R., Ali, Syed A., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Vetter, Irina, Dobson, James S., Cutmore, Scott C., Nouwens, Amanda, Lavergne, Vincent and Fry, Bryan G. (2014). A ray of venom: Combined proteomic and transcriptomic investigation of fish venom composition using barb tissue from the blue-spotted stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii). Journal of Proteomics, 109, 188-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.06.004
2014
Journal Article
Evolution of separate predation- and defence-evoked venoms in carnivorous cone snails
Dutertre, Sébastien, Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Hamilton, Brett, Sunagar, Kartik, Lavergne, Vincent, Dutertre, Valentin, Fry, Bryan G., Antunes, Agostinho, Venter, Deon J., Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2014). Evolution of separate predation- and defence-evoked venoms in carnivorous cone snails. Nature Communications, 5 (3521) 3521, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4521
2014
Journal Article
MrIC, a novel alpha-conotoxin agonist in the presence of PNU at endogenous alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Dutertre, Sébastien, Abraham, Nikita, Emidio, Nayara B., Inserra, Marco, Murali, Swetha S., Christie, MacDonald J., Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2014). MrIC, a novel alpha-conotoxin agonist in the presence of PNU at endogenous alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biochemistry, 53 (1), 1-3. doi: 10.1021/bi400882s
2014
Journal Article
Selenoether oxytocin analogues have analgesic properties in a mouse model of chronic abdominal pain
Dantas De Araujo, Aline, Mobli, Mehdi, Castro, Joel, Harrington, Andrea M., Vetter, Irina, Dekan, Zoltan, Muttenthale, Markus, Wan, JingJing, Lewis, Richard J., King, Glenn F., Brierley, Stuart M. and Alewood, Paul F. (2014). Selenoether oxytocin analogues have analgesic properties in a mouse model of chronic abdominal pain. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 3165, 3165.1-3165.12. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4165
2014
Journal Article
Analgesic effects of clinically used compounds in novel mouse models of polyneuropathy induced by oxaliplatin and cisplatin
Deuis, Jennifer R., Lim, Yu Ling, Rodrigues de Sousa, Silmara, Lewis, Richard J., Alewood, Paul F., Cabot, Peter J. and Vetter, Irina (2014). Analgesic effects of clinically used compounds in novel mouse models of polyneuropathy induced by oxaliplatin and cisplatin. Neuro-Oncology, 16 (10), 1324-1332. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou048
2014
Conference Publication
Discovery of voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitors from tarantula venoms
Cardoso, F. C., Dekan, Z., Anangi, R., Rosengren, K. J., Erickson, A., Vetter, I., Herzig, V., Alewood, P., King, G. F. and Lewis, R. J. (2014). Discovery of voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitors from tarantula venoms. Venom to Drugs Conference 2014, Kingscliffe, NSW, Australia, 19-23 October 2014.
2014
Book Chapter
Ciguatera toxins: pharmacology, toxicology and detection
Vetter, Irina, Zimmermann, Katharina and Lewis, Richard J. (2014). Ciguatera toxins: pharmacology, toxicology and detection. Seafood and freshwater toxins: pharmacology, physiology, and detection. (pp. 925-950) edited by Luis M. Botana. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b16662-32
2014
Conference Publication
Effets de la ciguatoxine P-CTX-2 sur la liberation induite de neuropeptides dans un modele de co-culture keratinocytes-neurones sensoriels
L'herondelle, K., Philippe, R., Mignen, O., Vetter, I., Lewis, R. J., Misery, L. and Le Garrec, R. (2014). Effets de la ciguatoxine P-CTX-2 sur la liberation induite de neuropeptides dans un modele de co-culture keratinocytes-neurones sensoriels. 32e Congrès Annuel de Recherche Dermatologique (CARD), Océanopolis, Brest, France, 25-27 June, 2014. Issy les Moulineaux, France: Elsevier Masson. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2014.04.154
2014
Book Chapter
Toxicology of ciguatoxins
Vetter, I. and Lewis, R. J. (2014). Toxicology of ciguatoxins. Toxins and biologically active compounds from microalgae: Volume 2: biological effects and risk management. (pp. xx-xx) Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b16806-17
2014
Conference Publication
AMTB, a TRPM8 channel blocker also inhibits voltage gated sodium channels (Nav) in breast cancer cells
Yapa, Kunsala T.D.S, Peters, Amelia A., Vetter, Irina and Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. (2014). AMTB, a TRPM8 channel blocker also inhibits voltage gated sodium channels (Nav) in breast cancer cells. ASCEPT-MPGPCR Joint Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 7-11 December 2014.
2013
Journal Article
Amplified Cold Transduction in Native Nociceptors by M-Channel Inhibition
Vetter, Irina, Hein, Alexander, Sattler, Simon, Hessler, Sabine, Touska, Filip, Bressan, Elisangela, Parra, Andres, Hager, Ulrich, Leffler, Andreas, Boukalova, Stepana, Nissen, Matthias, Lewis, Richard J., Belmonte, Carlos, Alzheimer, Christian, Huth, Tobias, Vlachova, Viktorie, Reeh, Peter W. and Zimmermann, Katharina (2013). Amplified Cold Transduction in Native Nociceptors by M-Channel Inhibition. Journal of Neuroscience, 33 (42), 16627-16641. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1473-13.2013
2013
Journal Article
Analgesic treatment of ciguatoxin-induced cold allodynia
Zimmermann, Katharina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Inserra, Marco C., Collins, Lindon S., Namer, Barbara, Cabot, Peter J., Reeh, Peter W., Lewis, Richard J. and Vetter, Irina (2013). Analgesic treatment of ciguatoxin-induced cold allodynia. Pain, 154 (10), 1999-2006. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.06.015
2013
Journal Article
Isolation and characterization of alpha-conotoxin LsIA with potent activity at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Inserra, Marco C., Kompella, Shiva N., Vetter, Irina, Brust, Andreas, Daly, Norelle L., Cuny, Hartmut, Craik, David J., Alewood, Paul F., Adams, David J. and Lewis, Richard J. (2013). Isolation and characterization of alpha-conotoxin LsIA with potent activity at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biochemical Pharmacology, 86 (6), 791-799. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.07.016
2013
Journal Article
An animal model of oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia reveals a crucial role for Na(v)1.6 in peripheral pain pathways
Deuis, Jennifer R., Zimmermann, Katharina, Romanovsky, Andrej A., Possani, Lourival D., Cabot, Peter J., Lewis, Richard J. and Vetter, Irina (2013). An animal model of oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia reveals a crucial role for Na(v)1.6 in peripheral pain pathways. Pain, 154 (9), 1749-1757. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.05.032
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, 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, Ms Svetlana Shatunova
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Doctor Philosophy
Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
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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
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
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Master Philosophy
Using peptide toxins to understand the nociceptor signallosome
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Probing ion channel function using venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
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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
Characterization of novel family of voltage-gated sodium channel toxins from ant venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins as tools to understand sodium channel structure and function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Chemotherapy-induced motor neuropathy: towards improved understanding of motor neuron dysfunction during chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
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
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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
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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
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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
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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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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder, Dr Rink-Jan Lohman
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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
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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
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of the function of peptide inhibitors targeting voltage-gated sodium channel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
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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
Effects of Australian snake venoms on coagulation: Differential potency, biochemistry, and antivenom efficacy
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
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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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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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