Orally active spider toxins: a novel paradigm for control of insect pests

许多昆虫和其他节肢动物是澳大利亚农作物、牲畜和宠物的严重害虫。澳大利亚农民每年在杀虫剂和杀螨剂上的支出约为3亿美元，而澳大利亚消费者每年在家庭和花园以及宠物身上使用的杀虫剂上的支出超过1亿美元。节肢动物传播的病毒也是登革热、日本脑炎和罗斯河热等疾病的原因。不幸的是，许多节肢动物已经对化学杀虫剂产生了抗药性。这项研究计划的目的是开发新一代环境友好型天然产品，可用于控制宠物、农场以及家庭和花园周围的节肢动物害虫。

Many insects and other arthropods are serious pests of Australian crops, livestock, and pets. Australian farmers spend about $300 million per annum on insecticides and acaricides, while Australian consumers spend more than $100 million annually on insecticides for use around the home and garden, and on pets. Viruses disseminated by arthropods are also responsible for diseases such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and Ross River fever. Unfortunately, many of these arthropod pests have developed resistance to chemical insecticides. This aim of this research program is to develop a new generation of environmentally-friendly natural products that can be used to control arthropod pests on pets, farms, and around the home and garden.