About Us
Technology
Spiders produce complex biological cocktails to kill their prey. Within these cocktails are numerous, small, potent polypeptides targeted to killing insects. It is conservatively estimated, that spiders produce from 5 to 20 million distinct peptide toxins. These peptide toxins are the basis of Vestaron's efforts to develop a new generation of highly specific and environmentally benign insecticides.
The majority of traditional chemical insecticides target the same four metabolic pathways. As a result, cross-resistance (resistance to multiple insecticides) is a problem for insecticide developers. Vestaron has discovered spider peptides that target metabolic pathways distinct from traditional insecticides. Three novel insecticidal sites of action have been identified and characterized. None of these sites has been previously exploited for agrochemical or animal health use. Vestaron has identified several novel peptides that act upon these sites. This technology is covered by eight patents that are exclusively licensed to Vestaron.
Vestaron has shown that its spider peptides are highly active against a broad range of insects, yet are not toxic to mammals. Consequently, the company plans to develop at least one peptide for animal health and agricultural markets. Vestaron scientists have developed microbial fermentation-based production systems capable of producing commercial quantities of the peptide product at cost-effective rates. The first of these products was evaluated in agricultgural crop field trials in 2009. Control of chewing insects (beetles and caterpillars) was statistically equivalent (P<0.05) to standard insecticides. Field trials also demonstrated the utility of the Vestaron product for control of flies, an application for both animal and public health markets.
Simultaneously, Vestaron is developing high-throughput screens to use in identifying small-molecule compounds that mimic the insecticidal action of the peptides. In addition, Vestaron has determined the 3D structure of the peptide/receptor pharmacophore and is using rational chemical design to synthesize small molecules with insecticidal activity. Initial "hit" compounds have been identified and undergone structure/function studies. Results confirm compounds with commercial levels of insecticidal activity.
Additionally, Vestaron scientists have demonstrated that spider peptide-expressing GMO plants display insecticidal properties. In such transformed plants, the expression of insecticidal characteristics, including insect mortality, is correlated directly with levels of peptide produced.