Spider venom toxins as a source of potent, "green" insecticides

Australian spiders are known for their toxicity, though they have never been comprehensively screened for insecticidal activity. Arthropod pests have traditionally been controlled with chemical insecticides. However, the evolution of insecticide resistance in target insects, combined with the revocation of key insecticides due to their adverse environmental effects, has created an unmet demand for a new generation of environmentally friendly insecticides or alternative methods of arthropod control. To date, no one has examined whether spider venom is orally active against insect pests. We have isolated toxins from the venom of Australian spiders, and screened them for activity against economically important insect pests. Several toxins with potent activity have been discovered, and protein sequencing and characterization are underway. A recombinant expression method for producing the spider toxins will be discussed.