Douglas Wightman

• BSc (Hons) Biology (Cell & Molecular Biology)
• Identification of Biopesticide Targets in Insects using RNA Interference

Food supply needs to increase by 70% to meet the needs of an additional 2.3 billion people by the year 2050. EU Directives banning many synthetic pesticides is driving the need to seek alternative strategies for crop protection.  Recombinant fusion proteins containing toxins produced by insect predators (e.g. spiders) are being developed as biopesticides. The toxin is fused to a carrier that transports it across the insect gut, giving oral toxicity. The target for these biopesticides will be investigated by "knock-outs" of expression of genes encoding neuronal ion channels using RNAi, to produce insecticidal effects.

Project Supervisor: Professor Angharad M. R. Gatehouse, School of Biology
 
Funding Source: Newcastle University