Development of Novel Bioinsecticides derived from Arthropod Venoms

The aim of this project is to develop a viable biopesticide derived from the venom of natural insect enemies; principally the proteins y-glutamyl transpeptidase (AeyGT) from the parasitoid Aphidius ervi and a viral ankyrin protein (TnBVANK1) isolated from a baculovirus within the venom of the parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps.

The primary objectives for the project are:


To purify and characterise recombinant AeyGT, TnBVANK1 and their respective BSA fusions produced in the vector Pichia pastoris (pGAPzaA).

To determine the oral insecticidal activity of the recombinant proteins and their BSA-fusion counterparts in Homopteran and Lepidopteran crop pests

To examine the effectiveness of BSA as a carrier protein in plant hydroponic systems.

To optimise the delivery of toxin through the plant and demonstrate toxicity to Aphids and Lepidoptera

To determine the environmental effects of these proteins on beneficial arthropods, such as natural crop pest enemies and key pollinators and off-target activity on intended crop consumers via allergenicity focussed bioinformatics