
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
2017
Conference Publication
Nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of novel therapies for neurological disorders
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Bellingham, Mark C., King, Glenn F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of novel therapies for neurological disorders. Venom to Drugs Conference 2017, Noosa Heads, QLD Australia, 9-14 October 2017.
2017
Journal Article
The use of imaging mass spectrometry to study peptide toxin distribution in Australian sea anemones
Mitchell, Michela L., Hamilton, Brett R., Madio, Bruno, Morales, Rodrigo A. V., Tonkin-Hill, Gerry Q., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Purcell, Anthony W., King, Glenn F., Undheim, Eivind A. B. and Norton, Raymond S. (2017). The use of imaging mass spectrometry to study peptide toxin distribution in Australian sea anemones. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 70 (11), 1235-1237. doi: 10.1071/CH17228
2017
Journal Article
Venom peptides as therapeutics: advances, challenges and the future of venom-peptide discovery
Robinson, Samuel D., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Ueberheide, Beatrix and King, Glenn F. (2017). Venom peptides as therapeutics: advances, challenges and the future of venom-peptide discovery. Expert Review of Proteomics, 14 (10), 931-939. doi: 10.1080/14789450.2017.1377613
2017
Conference Publication
Discovery of novel CaV and NaV modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of drugs to treat chronic pain.
Cardoso, Fernanda C., King, Glenn F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Discovery of novel CaV and NaV modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of drugs to treat chronic pain.. 19th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, 24-31 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Novel Human Eag Channel Antagonists from Spider Venoms
Ma, Linlin, Chin, Yanni K., Dekan, Zoltan, Ikonomopoulou, Maria, Herzig, Volker, Chow, Chun Yuen, Alewood, Paul and King, Glenn F. (2017). Novel Human Eag Channel Antagonists from Spider Venoms. 58th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical-Society, San Francisco, CA, United States, 15-19 February 2014. St. Louis, MO 63146 United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.11.1800
2016
Journal Article
Isolation of two insecticidal toxins from venom of the Australian theraphosid spider Coremiocnemis tropix
Ikonomopoulou, Maria P., Smith, Jennifer J., Herzig, Volker, Pineda, Sandy S., Dziemborowicz, Sławomir, Er, Sing-Yan, Durek, Thomas, Gilchrist, John, Alewood, Paul F., Nicholson, Graham M., Bosmans, Frank and King, Glenn F. (2016). Isolation of two insecticidal toxins from venom of the Australian theraphosid spider Coremiocnemis tropix. Toxicon, 123, 62-70. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.10.013
2016
Journal Article
Centipede venoms as a source of drug leads
Undheim, Eivind A. B., Jenner, Ronald A. and King, Glenn F. (2016). Centipede venoms as a source of drug leads. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 11 (12), 1139-1149. doi: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1235155
2016
Journal Article
Determination of ligand binding modes in weak protein–ligand complexes using sparse NMR data
Mohanty, Biswaranjan, Williams, Martin L., Doak, Bradley C., Vazirani, Mansha, Ilyichova, Olga, Wang, Geqing, Bermel, Wolfgang, Simpson, Jamie S., Chalmers, David K., King, Glenn F., Mobli, Mehdi and Scanlon, Martin J. (2016). Determination of ligand binding modes in weak protein–ligand complexes using sparse NMR data. Journal of Biomolecular NMR, 66 (3), 195-208. doi: 10.1007/s10858-016-0067-4
2016
Journal Article
Molecular basis of the interaction between gating modifier spider toxins and the voltage sensor of voltage-gated ion channels
Lau, Carus H.Y., King, Glenn F and Mobli, Mehdi (2016). Molecular basis of the interaction between gating modifier spider toxins and the voltage sensor of voltage-gated ion channels. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 34333, 34333. doi: 10.1038/srep34333
2016
Journal Article
Interaction of tarantula venom peptide ProTx-II with lipid membranes is a prerequisite for its inhibition of human voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7
Troeira Henriques, Sonia, Deplazes, Evelyne, Lawrence, Nicole, Cheneval, Olivier, Chaousis, Stephanie, Inserra, Marco, Thongyoo, Panumart, King, Glenn F., Mark, Alan E., Vetter, Irina, Craik, David J. and Schroeder, Christina Ingrid (2016). Interaction of tarantula venom peptide ProTx-II with lipid membranes is a prerequisite for its inhibition of human voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291 (33), 17049-17065. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.729095
2016
Journal Article
Isolation and characterization of a structurally unique β-hairpin venom peptide from the predatory ant Anochetus emarginatus
Touchard, Axel, Brust, Andreas, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Chin, K.-Y., Herzig, Volker, Jin, Ai-Hua, Dejean, Alain, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F., Orivel, Jérôme and Escoubas, Pierre (2016). Isolation and characterization of a structurally unique β-hairpin venom peptide from the predatory ant Anochetus emarginatus. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1860 (11 Part A), 2553-2562. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.07.027
2016
Journal Article
Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury
Koehn, Liam M, Noor, Natassya M, Dong, Qing, Er, Sing-Yan, Rash, Lachlan D, King, Glenn F, Dziegielewska, Katarzyna M, Saunders, Norman R and Habgood, Mark D (2016). Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury. F1000Research, 5 1822, 1822. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.9094.2
2016
Journal Article
Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury [version 1; referees: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Koehn, Liam M., Dong, Qing, Er, Sing-Yan, Rash, Lachlan D., King, Glenn F., Dziegielewska, Katarzyna M., Saunders, Norman R. and Habgood, Mark D. (2016). Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury [version 1; referees: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research, 5 1822, 1822. doi: 10.12688/F1000RESEARCH.9094.1
2016
Journal Article
Molecular basis of the remarkable species selectivity of an insecticidal sodium channel toxin from the African spider Augacephalus ezendami
Herzig, Volker, Ikonomopoulou, Maria, Smith, Jennifer J., Dziemborowicz, Slawomir, Gilchrist, John, Kuhn-Nentwig, Lucia, Rezende, Fernanda Oliveira, Moreira, Luciano Andrade, Nicholson, Graham M., Bosmans, Frank and King, Glenn F. (2016). Molecular basis of the remarkable species selectivity of an insecticidal sodium channel toxin from the African spider Augacephalus ezendami. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 29538, 29538. doi: 10.1038/srep29538
2016
Journal Article
Selective spider toxins reveal a role for the Nav1.1 channel in mechanical pain
Osteen, Jeremiah D., Herzig, Volker, Gilchrist, John, Emrick, Joshua J., Zhang, Chuchu, Wang, Xidao, Castro, Joel, Garcia-Caraballo, Sonia, Grundy, Luke, Rychkov, Grigori Y., Weyer, Andy D., Dekan, Zoltan, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Alewood, Paul, Stucky, Cheryl L., Brierley, Stuart M., Basbaum, Allan I., Bosmans, Frank, King, Glenn F. and Julius, David (2016). Selective spider toxins reveal a role for the Nav1.1 channel in mechanical pain. Nature, 543 (7608), 494-499. doi: 10.1038/nature17976
2016
Journal Article
Toxin structures as evolutionary tools: Using conserved 3D folds to study the evolution of rapidly evolving peptides
Undheim, Eivind A., Mobli, Mehdi and King, Glenn F. (2016). Toxin structures as evolutionary tools: Using conserved 3D folds to study the evolution of rapidly evolving peptides. Bioessays, 38 (6), 539-548. doi: 10.1002/bies.201500165
2016
Journal Article
Characterization of Three Venom Peptides from the Spitting Spider Scytodes thoracica
Ariki, Nathanial K., Muñoz, Lisa E., Armitage, Elizabeth L., Goodstein, Francesca R., George, Kathryn G, Smith, Vanessa L., Vetter, Irina, Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F. and Loening, Nikolaus M. (2016). Characterization of Three Venom Peptides from the Spitting Spider Scytodes thoracica. PLoS One, 11 (5) e0156291, e0156291. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156291
2016
Conference Publication
Combining Mass Spectrometry Cross‐Linking, Molecular Docking and NMR Titration to Dissect ZapA‐FtsZ Protein Interaction
Nogueira, Maria Luiza Caldas, Sforça, Mauricio Luis, Leme, Adriana Franco Paes, Pauletti, Bianca Alves, de Oliveira, Paulo Sergio Lopes, Honorato, Rodrigo Vargas, King, Glenn F., Filho, Frederico José Gueiros and de Mattos Zeri, Ana Carolina (2016). Combining Mass Spectrometry Cross‐Linking, Molecular Docking and NMR Titration to Dissect ZapA‐FtsZ Protein Interaction. Experimental Biology 2016 Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 April 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb60
2016
Conference Publication
Combining Mass Spectrometry Cross-Linking, Molecular Docking and NMR Titration to Dissect ZapA-FtsZ Protein Interaction
Caldas Nogueira, Maria Luiza, Sforca, Mauricio Luis, Paes Leme, Adriana Franco, Pauletti, Bianca Alves, Lopes de Oliveira, Paulo Sergio, Honorato, Rodrigo Vargas, King, Glenn F., Gueiros Filho, Frederico Jose and de Mattos Zeri, Ana Carolina (2016). Combining Mass Spectrometry Cross-Linking, Molecular Docking and NMR Titration to Dissect ZapA-FtsZ Protein Interaction. Experimental Biology Meeting, San Diego Ca, Apr 02-06, 2016. BETHESDA: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL.
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Glenn King is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
-
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
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a first-in-class biologic drug for stroke
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natalie Saez
-
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
-
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
Completed supervision
-
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
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Venomous Mechanisms: Structural Studies of Venom Modalities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and Evaluation of Macrocyclic hASIC1a Inhibitors for Neuroprotective Applications
Principal Advisor
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Biotechnological applications of spider venom peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
-
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: