Our multidisciplinary scientific staff are skilled across a range of research areas built around our core expertise in the study of insects and other invertebrates. We aim to use a range of insect pathogens as environmentally safe and specific new pesticides and our arsenal includes bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses. Genes from these sources are used for a variety of applications including engineered crop resistance, screen development and pesticide clean-up. Our core technologies include genomics and proteomics, as a complement to traditional recombinant DNA and protein isolation approaches to gene identification.
Structural biology is used for downstream optimisation of enzyme function.
Australia is famous for its unique mammals. Less well-known is that most of Australia's insects, spiders and other invertebrates are also unique, and a highly diverse source of undiscovered molecules. Its aim is to discover new molecules for pharmaceutical and agrochemical use. There are commercial, health and environmental requirements to find more specific targets for chemical insecticides than those used now. The proteins will be incorporated into screening programs for new chemicals.