Safeguarding Australia against invasive arthropod pests (2007-2009)
Abstract
The overriding aim of this proposal is to develop innovative approaches to control arthropod pests that disseminate human and animal diseases or destroy valuable crops. First, I will implement a novel approach for rapid functional and structural exploration of venom peptidomes in order to uncover natural compounds that can serve as leads for the development of environmentally-friendly insecticides. Second, I will generate the first structural models of the complexes formed between several insect-specific toxins and their ion channel targets. This information will facilitate the use of rational structure-based design for the development of chemical insecticides that mimic these natural toxins.
