Venom-derived peptide ion channel modulators as novel bioinsecticides (2026-2029)
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels are key insecticide targets and a common target of venom-derived peptides. Venom-derived peptides thus are a rich yet under-explored source of biologic insecticides that could potentially overcome many of the limitations of small molecule synthetics. However,we have little information on the structure-activity relationships of insecticidal peptides because we have lacked functional high-throughput assays for insect channels. This application will use novel functional high-throughput assays, which have already led to identification of novel species-selective venom peptides, to understand the pharmacology of venom peptides at insect sodium channels to enable the rational design of novel biofriendly insecticides.
