The aim of my research is to isolate and pharmacologically characterize toxins from the venom of Australianspiders. The main focus

lies on the analysis of venoms from theraphosid spiders (family: Theraphosidae, often wrongly called ‚tarantulas’) and all

theraphosids examined have been collected by myself from differentcollection sites in Queensland. In addition, there are 10

theraphosids from Alice Springs (Northern Territory) that are provided from a private owner for the purpose of venom extraction. 

In another project, I’, studying thevenom of “Northern mouse-spiders” (Missulena pruinosa) that have been collected in Darwin

(Northern Territory).All venoms are collected by myself by means of electrical stimulation in our lab of the Monash Venom Group

(Monash University, Melbourne, Australia); after the collection all venoms are freeze-dried and stored at -80 degree centigrade

for further use.

Applied methods

A detailed examination of the venom composition as well as the isolation of toxins is carried out by use of
HPLC (high-pressure liquid chromatography). The pharmacological properties of the venom and toxins are
tested in a chicken nerv-muscle preparation (chick biventer model). I further carry out toxicity tests in insects
(Achaeta domesticus) to determine the effects of the venom or it’s components in invertebrates. There also exist
collaborations with renowned researches for more detailed venom analysis:

Scientific collaborations

My supervisor and head of Monash Venom Group is Prof. Wayne Hodgson

(http://www.med.monash.edu.au/pharmacology/research/groups/hodgson.html)

Dr. Pierre Escoubas (IPMC-CNRS, Valbonne, France) undertakes the mass-spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)
studies of the venom and the toxins

Electrophysiological examinations (patch clamp) of the toxins are carried out by Prof. Graham Nicholson

(http://www.science.uts.edu.au/health/nrgresearch.html) (University of Technology, Sydney, Australia).

The taxonomical determination of the theraphosids is done by Dr. Robert Raven

(http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/organisation/staff/detail.asp?staffName=Raven,Robert) (Queensland Museum, Brisbane,
Australia).

Dr. Glenn F. King (http://psel.uchc.edu/people.html) (University of  Connecticut, USA) examines structure-function-
interactions of the isolated toxins.

The taxonomic determination of the “Northern mouse-spiders” has been done by Dr. Tracey Churchill
(Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia).

Further collaborations exist for the ‘Northern mouse-spider’ project

(http://appserv.menzies.edu.au/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/ABOUT_US/MEDIA_RELEASES/MEDIARELEASES2005/MOUSE+SPIDER+OCT+2005+DRAFT.PDF)

with Sue Horner (Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia),

Prof. Bart Currie http://www.menzies.edu.au/servlet/page?_pageid=882&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&_type=site&_fsiteid=213&_fid=9112&_fnavbarid=1&_fnavbarsiteid=213&_fedit=0&_fmode=2&_fdisplaymode=1&_fcalledfrom=1&_fdisplayurl)

and Dr. Geoff Isbister      

(http://appserv.menzies.edu.au/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/ABOUT_US/NEWS/NEWS_EVENTS_2005/GEOFF+ISBISTER+TALL+POPPY+AWARD.PDF)

both Tropical Toxinology Unit, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia).