Project

Peptide-based biopesticides for crop protection

Code
179S01222
Duration
01 April 2022 → 31 March 2023
Funding
Regional and community funding: IWT/VLAIO
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Biology and other natural sciences
  • Engineering and technology
    • Biochemical engineering
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Agricultural plant protection
    • Agrochemistry and fertilisers
Keywords
Phage display drug development peptide screening toxin biopesticides
 
Project description

Ion channels such as voltage-gated sodium (Na ) and potassium (K ) channels, have been governing electrical excitability in a wide range of organisms from invertebrates to mammals. Thus, it is not surprising that ancient venomous organisms developed an arsenal of weapons geared towards incapacitating prey by modulating ion channel function. Using our knowledge of natural toxins from venomous animals combined with our prior successes in identifying species-specific toxins, we propose to establish a high-throughput approach to uncover species-specific compounds. This will result in an unique flexible discovery platform for the development of target-specific peptides for various high-value applications ranging from agriculture to veterinary and human medicine.