Ion channels such as voltage-gated sodium (NaV) and potassium (KV) 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 a unique flexible discovery platform for the development of target-specific peptides for various high-value applications ranging from agriculture to veterinary and human medicine.