The University of Queensland

Evolution and application of coiled coil silks from insects

Kameda, Tsunenori, Walker, Andrew A. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2014). Evolution and application of coiled coil silks from insects. Biotechnology of silk. (pp. 87-106) edited by Tetsuo Asakura and Thomas Miller. Dordrecht The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7119-2_5

Look but do not touch: the occurrence of venomous species across Lepidoptera

Battisti, Andrea, Walker, Andre.A., Uemura, Mizuki, Zalucki, Myron.P., Brinquin, Anne-Sophie, Caparros-Megidos, Rudy, Gachet, Emmanuel, Kerdelhué, Carole and Desneux, Nicolas (2024). Look but do not touch: the occurrence of venomous species across Lepidoptera. Entomologia Generalis, 44 (1), 29-39. doi: 10.1127/entomologia/2023/2295

Proteome of urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, a processionary caterpillar of medical and veterinary importance, including primary structures of putative toxins

Walker, Andrew A., Perkins, Lynda E., Battisti, Andrea, Zalucki, Myron P. and King, Glenn F. (2023). Proteome of urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, a processionary caterpillar of medical and veterinary importance, including primary structures of putative toxins. Proteomics, 23 (20) 2300204, e2300204. doi: 10.1002/pmic.202300204

Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities of inhibitor cystine knot peptides produced by teratocytes of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Pinto, Ciro P. G., Walker, Andrew A., King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2023). Immunosuppressive, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities of inhibitor cystine knot peptides produced by teratocytes of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Science, 30 (4), 1105-1117. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.13154

Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Merritt, David J., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Mercedes, Raine S., Eagles, David A., Cooper, Paul, Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Hall, Donald W., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2023). Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (29) e2305871120, e2305871120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2305871120

Venom composition and bioactive RF-amide peptide toxins of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)

Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Eagles, David A., Lim, Junxian, Biggs, Kimberley A., Kotze, Andrew C., Ruffell, Angela P., Fairlie, David P., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2023). Venom composition and bioactive RF-amide peptide toxins of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae). Biochemical Pharmacology, 213 115598, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115598

Two novel mosquitocidal peptides isolated from the venom of the Bahia scarlet tarantula (Lasiodora klugi)

Ahmed, Jamila, Walker, Andrew A., Perdomo, Hugo D., Guo, Shaodong, Nixon, Samantha A., Vetter, Irina, Okoh, Hilary I., Shehu, Dalhatu M., Shuaibu, Mohammed N., Ndams, Iliya S., King, Glenn F. and Herzig, Volker (2023). Two novel mosquitocidal peptides isolated from the venom of the Bahia scarlet tarantula (Lasiodora klugi). Toxins, 15 (7) 418, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/toxins15070418

Ant venoms contain vertebrate-selective pain-causing sodium channel toxins

Robinson, Samuel D., Deuis, Jennifer R., Touchard, Axel, Keramidas, Angelo, Mueller, Alexander, Schroeder, Christina I., Barassé, Valentine, Walker, Andrew A., Brinkwirth, Nina, Jami, Sina, Bonnafé, Elsa, Treilhou, Michel, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Schmidt, Justin O., King, Glenn F. and Vetter, Irina (2023). Ant venoms contain vertebrate-selective pain-causing sodium channel toxins. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 2977, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38839-1

The predatory stink bug Arma custos (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) produces a complex proteinaceous venom to overcome caterpillar prey

Qu, Yuli, Walker, Andrew A., Meng, Ling, Herzig, Volker and Li, Baoping (2023). The predatory stink bug Arma custos (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) produces a complex proteinaceous venom to overcome caterpillar prey. Biology, 12 (5) 691. doi: 10.3390/biology12050691

Holistic profiling of the venom from the Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics

Cardoso, F. C., Walker, A. A., King, G. F. and Gomez, M. V. (2023). Holistic profiling of the venom from the Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 10 1069764, 1069764. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1069764

Intra-colony venom diversity contributes to maintaining eusociality in a cooperatively breeding ant

Robinson, Samuel D., Schendel, Vanessa, Schroeder, Christina I., Moen, Sarah, Mueller, Alexander, Walker, Andrew A., McKinnon, Naomi, Neely, G. Gregory, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F. and Undheim, Eivind A. B. (2023). Intra-colony venom diversity contributes to maintaining eusociality in a cooperatively breeding ant. BMC Biology, 21 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s12915-022-01507-9

Composition and toxicity of venom produced by araneophagous white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.)

Michálek, Ondřej, Walker, Andrew A., Šedo, Ondrej, Zdráhal, Zbyněk, King, Glenn F. and Pekár, Stano (2022). Composition and toxicity of venom produced by araneophagous white-tailed spiders (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.). Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 21597, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24694-5

Venom composition and pain-causing toxins of the Australian great carpenter bee Xylocopa aruana

Shi, Naiqi, Szanto, Tibor G., He, Jia, Schroeder, Christina I., Walker, Andrew A., Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Panyi, György, King, Glenn F. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2022). Venom composition and pain-causing toxins of the Australian great carpenter bee Xylocopa aruana. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 22168, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26867-8

Holistic profiling of the venom from the lethal spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics

Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., King, Glenn F. and Gomez, Marcus V. (2022). Holistic profiling of the venom from the lethal spider Phoneutria nigriventer by combining high-throughput ion channel screens with venomics.

Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas

Youngman, Nicholas J., Llinas, Joshua, Haworth, Mark, Gillett, Amber, Jones, Lee, Walker, Andrew A. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas. Toxicon, 216, 37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.012

Proteotranscriptomics reveals the secretory dynamics of teratocytes, regulators of parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp

Pinto, Ciro P.G., Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2022). Proteotranscriptomics reveals the secretory dynamics of teratocytes, regulators of parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp. Journal of Insect Physiology, 139 104395, 104395. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104395

A pain-causing and paralytic ant venom glycopeptide

Robinson, Samuel D., Kambanis, Lucas, Clayton, Daniel, Hinneburg, Hannes, Corcilius, Leo, Mueller, Alexander, Walker, Andrew A., Keramidas, Angelo, Kulkarni, Sameer S., Jones, Alun, Vetter, Irina, Thaysen-Andersen, Morten, Payne, Richard J., King, Glenn F. and Undheim, Eivind A.B. (2021). A pain-causing and paralytic ant venom glycopeptide. iScience, 24 (10) 103175, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103175

Multipurpose peptides: the venoms of Amazonian stinging ants contain anthelmintic ponericins with diverse predatory and defensive activities

Nixon, Samantha A., Robinson, Samuel D., Agwa, Akello J., Walker, Andrew A., Choudhary, Shivani, Touchard, Axel, Undheim, Eivind A.B., Robertson, Alan, Vetter, Irina, Schroeder, Christina I., Kotze, Andrew C., Herzig, Volker and King, Glenn F. (2021). Multipurpose peptides: the venoms of Amazonian stinging ants contain anthelmintic ponericins with diverse predatory and defensive activities. Biochemical Pharmacology, 192 114693, 114693. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114693

Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide

Pinto, Ciro P.G., Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Chin, Yanni K.-Y, King, Glenn F. and Rossi, Guilherme D. (2021). Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide. Toxicon, 202, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.002

Venom chemistry underlying the painful stings of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Jensen, Timo, Walker, Andrew A., Nguyen, Son H., Jin, Ai-Hua, Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn F., Schmidt, Justin O. and Robinson, Samuel D. (2021). Venom chemistry underlying the painful stings of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 78 (12), 5163-5177. doi: 10.1007/s00018-021-03847-1

Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Paluzzi, Jean-Paul V., Merritt, David J., Nixon, Samantha A., Schroeder, Christina I., Jin, Jiayi, Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Kotze, Andrew C., Dekan, Zoltan, Sombke, Andy, Alewood, Paul F., Fry, Bryan G., Epstein, Marc E., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2021). Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (18) 2023815118, e2023815118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023815118

Crouching tiger, hidden protein: searching for insecticidal toxins in venom of the red tiger assassin bug (Havinthus rufovarius)

Wait, Laura C., Walker, Andrew A. and King, Glenn F. (2020). Crouching tiger, hidden protein: searching for insecticidal toxins in venom of the red tiger assassin bug (Havinthus rufovarius). Toxins, 13 (1) 3, 3. doi: 10.3390/toxins13010003

Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency

Peschel, Alicia, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., Durek, Thomas, Stone, M Rhia L., Braga Emidio, Nayara, Dawson, Philip E., Muttenthaler, Markus and King, Glenn F. (2020). Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (21), 12773-12785. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107

Varespladib (LY315920) neutralises phospholipase A2 mediated prothrombinase-inhibition induced by Bitis snake venoms

Youngman, Nicholas J., Walker, Andrew, Naude, Arno, Coster, Kristian, Sundman, Eric and Fry, Bryan G. (2020). Varespladib (LY315920) neutralises phospholipase A2 mediated prothrombinase-inhibition induced by Bitis snake venoms. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology, 236 108818, 108818. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108818

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

The evolutionary dynamics of venom toxins made by insects and other animals

Walker, Andrew A. (2020). The evolutionary dynamics of venom toxins made by insects and other animals. Biochemical Society Transactions, 48 (4), 1353-1365. doi: 10.1042/bst20190820

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

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

Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Jin, Jiayi, Han, Xiao, Fry, Bryan G., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2019). Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus. Toxins, 11 (11) 673, 673. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110673

Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae)

Walker, Andrew, Dobson, James, Jin, Jiayi, Robinson, Samuel, Herzig, Volker, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn and Fry, Bryan (2018). Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae). Toxins, 10 (11) 456, 456. doi: 10.3390/toxins10110456

Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Yeates, David K., Jin, Jiayi, Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2018). Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms. Toxicon: official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 154, 15-27. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.09.004

Harvesting venom toxins from assassin bugs and other heteropteran insects

Walker, Andrew Allan, Rosenthal, Max, Undheim, Eivind E. A. and King, Glenn F (2018). Harvesting venom toxins from assassin bugs and other heteropteran insects. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2018 (134) e57729. doi: 10.3791/57729

The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens

Walker, Andrew A., Mayhew, Mark L., Jin, Jiayi, Herzig, Volker, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Sombke, Andy, Fry, Bryan G., Meritt, David J. and King, Glenn F. (2018). The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 755, 755. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03091-5

Giant fish-killing water bug reveals ancient and dynamic venom evolution in Heteroptera

Walker, Andrew A., Hernández-Vargas, Maria José, Corzo, Gerardo, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2018). Giant fish-killing water bug reveals ancient and dynamic venom evolution in Heteroptera. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 75 (17), 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00018-018-2768-1

Melt with this kiss: paralyzing and liquefying venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Walker, Andrew A. , Madio, Bruno, Jin, Jiayi, Undheim, Eivind A. B. , Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2017). Melt with this kiss: paralyzing and liquefying venom of the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 16 (4), 552-566. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M116.063321

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

The other prey-capture silk: fibres made by glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae) comprise cross-β-sheet crystallites in an abundant amorphous fraction

Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Trueman, Holly E., Merritt, David J. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2015). The other prey-capture silk: fibres made by glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae) comprise cross-β-sheet crystallites in an abundant amorphous fraction. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 187, 78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.05.008

More than one way to spin a crystallite: multiple trajectories through liquid crystallinity to solid silk

Walker, Andrew A., Holland, Chris and Sutherland, Tara D. (2015). More than one way to spin a crystallite: multiple trajectories through liquid crystallinity to solid silk. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282 (1809) 20150259, 1-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0259

A comparison of convergently evolved insect silks that share β-sheet molecular structure

Church, Jeffrey S., Woodhead, Andrea L., Walker, Andrew A. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2014). A comparison of convergently evolved insect silks that share β-sheet molecular structure. Biopolymers, 101 (6), 630-639. doi: 10.1002/bip.22431

Convergently-evolved structural anomalies in the coiled coil domains of insect silk proteins

Sutherland, Tara D., Trueman, Holly E., Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Campbell, Peter M., Dong, Zhaoming, Huson, Mickey G., Woodhead, Andrea L. and Church, Jeffrey S. (2014). Convergently-evolved structural anomalies in the coiled coil domains of insect silk proteins. Journal of Structural Biology, 186 (3), 402-411. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2014.01.002

Micellar refolding of coiled-coil honeybee silk proteins

Walker, Andrew A., Warden, Andrew C., Trueman, Holly E., Weisman, Sarah and Sutherland, Tara D. (2013). Micellar refolding of coiled-coil honeybee silk proteins. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 1 (30), 3644-3651. doi: 10.1039/c3tb20611d

A new class of animal collagen masquerading as an insect silk

Sutherland, Tara D., Peng, Yong Y., Trueman, Holly E., Weisman, Sarah, Okada, Shoko, Walker, Andrew A., Sriskantha, Alagacone, White, Jacinta F., Huson, Mickey G., Werkmeister, Jerome A., Glattauer, Veronica, Stoichevska, Violet, Mudie, Stephen T., Haritos, Victoria S. and Ramshaw, John A. M. (2013). A new class of animal collagen masquerading as an insect silk. Scientific Reports, 3 (1) 2864. doi: 10.1038/srep02864

Silverfish silk is formed by entanglement of randomly coiled protein chains

Walker, Andrew A., Church, Jeffrey S., Woodhead, Andrea L. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2013). Silverfish silk is formed by entanglement of randomly coiled protein chains. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43 (7), 572-579. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.03.014

Natural templates for coiled-coil biomaterials from praying mantis egg cases

Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Kameda, Tsunenori and Sutherland, Tara D. (2012). Natural templates for coiled-coil biomaterials from praying mantis egg cases. Biomacromolecules, 13 (12), 4264-4272. doi: 10.1021/bm301570v

Silk from crickets: a new twist on spinning

Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Church, Jeffrey S., Merritt, David J., Mudie, Stephen T. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2012). Silk from crickets: a new twist on spinning. Plos One, 7 (2) e30408, e30408-1-e30408-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030408

Invited review: The coiled coil silk of bees, ants, and hornets

Sutherland, Tara D., Weisman, Sarah, Walker, Andrew A. and Mudie, Stephen T. (2012). Invited review: The coiled coil silk of bees, ants, and hornets. Biopolymers, 97 (6), 446-454. doi: 10.1002/bip.21702

The Ig-like domain of human GM-CSF receptor α plays a critical role in cytokine binding and receptor activation

Mirza, Shamaruh, Walker, Adrew, Chen, Jinglong, Murphy, James M. and Young, Ian G. (2010). The Ig-like domain of human GM-CSF receptor α plays a critical role in cytokine binding and receptor activation. Biochemical Journal, 426 (3), 307-317. doi: 10.1042/BJ20091745

A new isoform of interleukin-3 receptor α with novel differentiation activity and high affinity binding mode

Chen, Jinglong, Olsen, Jane, Ford, Sally, Mirza, Shamaruh, Walker, Andrew, Murphy, Jame M. and Young, Ian G. (2009). A new isoform of interleukin-3 receptor α with novel differentiation activity and high affinity binding mode. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284 (9), 5763-5773. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M808197200

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.