Research Seminar: Lecture by Dr. Aurélien Bigot, FHNW School of Life Sciences

Pharmaceutical discovery increasingly takes a modality-agnostic approach, selecting the most appropriate chemistry or biologic for a defined target. At Syngenta, they apply a similar principle to insect control, using the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) as a common target across small-molecule and peptide modalities.

First, Dr. Aurélien Bigot will present structural studies that reveal how modern insecticides engage the nAChR orthosteric site guiding the design of new small-molecule pharmacophores.

Then he describes spider-venom hexatoxins as potent positive allosteric modulators of insect nAChRs. While these peptides offer a distinct mechanism of receptor modulation, their use is limited by poor oral bioavailability. Syngenta recently found that plant cyclotides can overcome this barrier in lepidopteran pests, enabling venom-derived neurotoxins to reach their site of action. Together, these studies show how target-led, modality-agnostic discovery can expand insect control, combining the tractability and cost efficiency of small molecules with the selectivity, novel pharmacology, and favourable residue profile of peptide-based biologicals.

To ensure that the research seminars are an enjoyable experience for everyone, please bear the following in mind:

• If you arrive late, enter the room quietly, close the door gently and take your seat.
• It is fine to eat a light snack discreetly, but please do so without making any noise or distracting other participants.
• Please give the guest speaker your full attention and do not use your laptop or phone.

Thank you very much.