Technology
Research & Development
Over the millennia, spiders have evolved into amazingly efficient insect killing machines. Their primary weapon is their venom, a complex mixture of potent peptides that block metabolic pathways critical for insect survival. The venom of a single spider can contain as many as several thousand distinct peptide toxins. Vestaron is unraveling the secrets of spider venom in a search for new toxin-based insecticides that are highly effective, yet are environmentally benign. Vestaron researchers have identified several spider venom (SV) peptides that are toxic to insects, yet harmless to mammals, including humans. These SV peptides are being developed as insecticides for animal health, public health and agricultural markets.