
Overview
Availability
- Professor Glenn King is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
Research interests
-
Bugs and drugs
Our research harnesses the chemistry of venoms from arthropod predators, such as spiders, scorpions and centipedes, to develop novel pharmaceuticals to treat chronic pain, epilepsy and stroke. Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide. In addition, it causes an extremely high incidence of disability in surviving victims due to the brain damage suffered during stroke. Likewise, chronic pain is a huge medical problem that affects one in five adults. There are few drugs available for treating chronic pain, and many of these have limited efficacy and dose-limiting side effects. Animal venoms are a rich source of stable natural peptides that potently modulate the activity of a wide range of neuronal ion channels and receptors. We have the largest collection of arthropod venoms in the world, a high-throughput pipeline for venoms-based drug discovery, protocols for rapid protein expression and structure determination, and links to key laboratories for testing the efficacy of lead molecules in rodent models of pain, epilepsy and stroke. We are using these world-class resources to move us closer to achieving our aim of developing novel analgesics for pain relief, novel drugs for treating severe paediatric epilepsies, and novel neuroprotective agents for treating stroke victims. An equally important focus of our research is on helping to safeguard Australia’s agricultural crops and reduce the spread of disease from insect pests by discovering new environmentally friendly insecticides. Currently, arthropod pests destroy approximately 15 per cent of the world’s food supply and spread pernicious diseases such as dengue and malaria. Our work is finding better, safer ways to control disease-spreading pests and protect crops.
Works
Search Professor Glenn King’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Olfactory bulb‐targeted quantum dot (QD) bioconjugate and Kv1.3 blocking peptide improve metabolic health in obese male mice
Schwartz, Austin B., Kapur, Anshika, Huang, Zhenbo, Anangi, Raveendra, Spear, John M., Stagg, Scott, Fardone, Erminia, Dekan, Zolan, Rosenberg, Jens T., Grant, Samuel C., King, Glenn F., Mattoussi, Hedi and Fadool, Debra Ann (2020). Olfactory bulb‐targeted quantum dot (QD) bioconjugate and Kv1.3 blocking peptide improve metabolic health in obese male mice. Journal of Neurochemistry, 157 (6) jnc.15200, 1876-1896. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15200
2020
Journal Article
Heterodimeric insecticidal peptide provides new insights into the molecular and functional diversity of ant venoms
Touchard, Axel, Mendel, Helen C., Boulogne, Isabelle, Herzig, Volker, Braga Emidio, Nayara, King, Glenn F., Triquigneaux, Mathilde, Jaquillard, Lucie, Beroud, Rémy, De Waard, Michel, Delalande, Olivier, Dejean, Alain, Muttenthaler, Markus and Duplais, Christophe (2020). Heterodimeric insecticidal peptide provides new insights into the molecular and functional diversity of ant venoms. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 3 (6) acsptsci.0c00119, 1211-1224. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00119
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
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
Conference Publication
A spider-venom peptide for preventing ischemic injuries of the heart: application to heart transplant and myocardial infarction
Redd, M. A., Scheuer, S. E., Saez, N. J., Macdonald, P. S., Palpant, N. J. and King, G. F. (2020). A spider-venom peptide for preventing ischemic injuries of the heart: application to heart transplant and myocardial infarction. Venom Week, Gainesville, FL, United States, 4-7 March, 2020. Oxford, United Kingdom : Elsevier.
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
Conference Publication
Discovery of a small-molecule toxin with inhibitory activity at human P2X4 ion channels
Bibic, Lucka, Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F., Searcey, Mark and Stokes, Leanne (2020). Discovery of a small-molecule toxin with inhibitory activity at human P2X4 ion channels. Meeting of the British-Pharmacological-Society, Edinburgh, Scotland, 15-17 December, 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1111/bph.15035
2020
Journal Article
Venom-derived modulators of epilepsy-related ion channels
Chow, Chun Yuen, Absalom, Nathan, Biggs, Kimberley, King, Glenn F. and Ma, Linlin (2020). Venom-derived modulators of epilepsy-related ion channels. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114043, 114043. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114043
2020
Journal Article
Structural venomics reveals evolution of a complex venom by duplication and diversification of an ancient peptide-encoding gene
Pineda, Sandy S., Chin, Yanni K.-Y., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Senff, Sebastian, Mobli, Mehdi, Dauly, Claire, Escoubas, Pierre, Nicholson, Graham M., Kaas, Quentin, Guo, Shaodong, Herzig, Volker, Mattick, John S. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Structural venomics reveals evolution of a complex venom by duplication and diversification of an ancient peptide-encoding gene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (21) A41, 201914536-11408. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1914536117
2020
Journal Article
A selective naV1.1 activator with potential for treatment of dravet syndrome epilepsy
Chow, Chun Yuen, Chin, Yanni K.Y., Ma, Linlin, Undheim, Eivind A.B., Herzig, Volker and King, Glenn F. (2020). A selective naV1.1 activator with potential for treatment of dravet syndrome epilepsy. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 113991, 113991. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113991
2020
Journal Article
Structural basis of the potency and selectivity of Urotoxin, a potent Kv1 blocker from scorpion venom
Luna-Ramirez, Karen, Csoti, Agota, McArthur, Jeffrey R., Chin, Yanni K.Y., Anangi, Raveendra, Najera, Rosby del Carmen, Possani, Lourival D., King, Glenn F., Panyi, Gyorgy, Yu, Haibo, Adams, David J. and Finol-Urdaneta, Rocio K. (2020). Structural basis of the potency and selectivity of Urotoxin, a potent Kv1 blocker from scorpion venom. Biochemical Pharmacology, 174 113782, 113782. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.113782
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
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
2020
Journal Article
Animal toxins — Nature's evolutionary-refined toolkit for basic research and drug discovery
Herzig, Volker, Cristofori-Armstrong, Ben, Israel, Mathilde R., Nixon, Samantha A., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2020). Animal toxins — Nature's evolutionary-refined toolkit for basic research and drug discovery. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114096, 114096. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114096
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.
2020
Journal Article
Fluorescence labeling of a NaV1.7-targeted peptide for near-infrared nerve visualization
Gonzales, Junior, Pirovano, Giacomo, Chow, Chun Yuen, de Souza Franca, Paula Demetrio, Carter, Lukas M., Klint, Julie K., Guru, Navjot, Lewis, Jason S., King, Glenn F. and Reiner, Thomas (2020). Fluorescence labeling of a NaV1.7-targeted peptide for near-infrared nerve visualization. EJNMMI Research, 10 (1) 49, 49. doi: 10.1186/s13550-020-00630-4
2020
Conference Publication
The antiproliferative profile of a linear octopus-derived peptide in melanoma of BRAF-mutation
Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel A., Brust, Andreas, Potriquet, Jeremy, Daley, Joshua, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Andersson, Asa, Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Wilhelm, Patrick, Chin, Yanni, Smallwood, Taylor, Clark, Richard, King, Glenn, Ramm, Grant, Waddell, Nic, Lewis, Richard, Boyle, Glen, Fry, Bryan, Alewood, Paul, Mulvenna, Jason, Miles, John and Ikonomopoulou, Maria P. (2020). The antiproliferative profile of a linear octopus-derived peptide in melanoma of BRAF-mutation. 20th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.10.014
2020
Journal Article
Mutational analysis of ProTx-I and the novel venom peptide Pe1b provide insight into residues responsible for selective inhibition of the analgesic drug target NaV1.7
Rupasinghe, Darshani B., Herzig, Volker, Vetter, Irina, Dekan, Zoltan, Gilchrist, John, Bosmans, Frank, Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Mutational analysis of ProTx-I and the novel venom peptide Pe1b provide insight into residues responsible for selective inhibition of the analgesic drug target NaV1.7. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114080, 114080. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114080
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
A versatile and robust serine protease inhibitor scaffold from Actinia tenebrosa
Chen, Xingchen, Leahy, Darren, Van Haeften, Jessica, Hartfield, Perry, Prentis, Peter J., van der Burg, Chloé A., Surm, Joachim M., Pavasovic, Ana, Madio, Bruno, Hamilton, Brett R., King, Glenn F., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Brattsand, Maria and Harris, Jonathan M. (2019). A versatile and robust serine protease inhibitor scaffold from Actinia tenebrosa. Marine Drugs, 17 (12) 701, 701. doi: 10.3390/md17120701
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Glenn King is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of a first-in-class biologic drug for stroke
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natalie Saez
-
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
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant, Dr Andrew Walker
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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
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant, Dr Andrew Walker
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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
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant, Dr Andrew Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Venom-derived drugs for targeting ion channels involved in genetic epilepsies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lata Vadlamudi
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Master Philosophy
Pharmacological screening of Columbian scorpion venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using genetics to predict drug efficacy and on-target side effects of pharmacological agents
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah, Professor David Evans
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Phylogenetic Patterns of Scorpion Pathophysiological Effects and Effectiveness of Next-Generation Antivenoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson, Professor Bryan Fry
-
Doctor Philosophy
Selective modulation voltage gated sodium channels to investigate pathophysiology and treatment for motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Phylogenetic Patterns of Scorpion Pathophysiological Effects and Effectiveness of Next-Generation Antivenoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson, Professor Bryan Fry
-
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising invertebrates to identify novel coagulotoxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry, Dr Andrew Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and function of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the Structure and Function of Caterpillar Venom Toxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing the efficacy of venom-derived peptide therapeutics for the treatment of ion channel diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natalie Saez
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Cyclic peptides as therapeutics for ischemic heart disease and heart failure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Venomous Mechanisms: Structural Studies of Venom Modalities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and Evaluation of Macrocyclic hASIC1a Inhibitors for Neuroprotective Applications
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler, Dr Fernanda Cardoso
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterisation of two orally active insecticidal spider-venom peptides and elucidation of the molecular basis of their oral activity
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Is acid sensing ion channel 1a a viable therapeutic for spinal cord injury?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Arthropod venoms in antiparasitic drug discovery: isolation and biological characterisation of venom-derived anthelmintic compounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Andrew Kotze
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery of novel cyclic peptide acid sensing ion channel-1a inhibitors to protect heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Rational development of analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain: dissecting the molecular details of the interaction between gating modifier peptide modulators and human voltage-gated sodium channels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Development of NaV1.1-selective agonists with potential for treatment of Dravet syndrome epilepsy
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterisation of novel spider venom peptides targeting the human NaV1.7 channel
Principal Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
A combined proteomic and transcriptomic investigation of venom from Australian sea anemones
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Peptide modulators of ASIC1a: a putative drug target for the treatment of stroke
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Biotechnological applications of spider venom peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
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2016
Master Philosophy
Venoms-based discovery of novel modulators of human neuronal ¿7 and ¿3* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the molecular basis of the interaction between spider toxins and the voltage sensor domain of voltage-gated ion channels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering Insect-Resistant Plants by Transgenic Expression of an Insecticidal Spider-Venom Peptide
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Bioinsecticides for the control of human disease vectors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Developing Novel Analgesics To Treat Chronic Pain: Inhibiting Voltage Gated Sodium Channel 1.7 With Spider-Venom Peptides
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and mechanistic studies of a bacterial histidine kinase
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Centipede Venom Evolution: Casting light on a neglected group of venomous animals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of spider-venom peptides that target voltage-gated sodium channels: pharmacological tools and potential therapeutic leads for the treatment of chronic pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Bio-logic of Venom Complexity: A Chemical and Evolutionary Investigation into the Role of Venom Complexity in Two Orders of Venomous Animals
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the molecular basis of the interaction between the putative drug target ASIC1a and pi-TRTX-Pc1a
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the interaction between the sea anemone toxin APETx2 and its analgesic target, acid-sensing ion channel 3
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Probing the chemical diversity of venom from the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche infensa
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Isolation and characterization of orally active insecticidal peptides from spider venoms
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Unraveling the role of the bacterial cell division protein DivIB
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and modulation of acid-sensing ion channel modulating venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Structural studies of the Yersinia entomophaga ABC toxin complex YenTc using cryo-EM
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Tarantulas of Australia: phylogenetics and venomics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lyn Cook, Professor Bryan Fry
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
In vivo protein splicing of secreted cysteine-rich repeat proteins and their structural characterization by NMR spectroscopy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A philosophical and empirical investigation of the evolution of the toxicoferan reptile venom system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter, Professor Bryan Fry
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of parasitism on the host transcriptome and microRNA profile in Diadegma semiclausum - Plutella xylostella system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sassan Asgari
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of novel bioactive peptides from Australian venomous animals
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Glenn King directly for media enquiries about:
- Chronic pain
- Dravet syndrome
- drug discovery
- epilepsy
- Insecticides
- Ion channel drugs
- NMR spectroscopy
- pain drugs
- painkillers
- peptide drugs
- Protein structure
- Stroke
- Venomous animals
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