Development of environmentally-friendly bioinsecticides for control of Australian crop pests (2011–2014)
Abstract:
The long-term goal of this proposal is to develop a new generation of environmentally-friendly insecticides for
controlling insect pests that spread disease and cause billions of dollars damage annually to crops and
livestock. The research program will build upon the recent isolation in Prof. King's laboratory of several
peptides from the venom of Australian tarantulas that are orally active against insect pests. The specific aims
of the project are to determine the structure and mechanism of action of these toxins, and to examine their
activity against a wide range of insect pests relevant to Australian agriculture.