VIRUSES given a gene for a toxin from one of the world’s deadliest spiders
could replace chemical pesticides, say researchers in the US. They plan to carry
out field trials, although there are fears about the wisdom of releasing such
viruses.
Glenn King of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington and
his colleagues recently identified a unique family of toxins in the venom of a
funnel-web spider. These neurotoxins are lethal when injected into insect
tissues, yet have no effect if eaten by insects or other animals (Nature
Structural Biology, vol 7, p 505).
King’s team is…
