Novel method to identify targets for antibiotic development
AssigneeThe Rockefeller University
InventorsVincent A. Fischetti, Daniel C. Nelson, Jutta Loeffler
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Abstract
The present invention identifies a new approach for antibiotic development. By identifying molecules in the cell wall of bacteria responsible for binding bacteriophage lytic enzymes, the present invention focuses on the pathways for possible antibiotic development. The pathway for the bacterial molecule is critical for bacterial survival and thus serves as a target for antibiotic identification.
Claims34
A method for identifying a bacterial molecule that is essential for bacterial viability, which method comprises identifying a bacterial molecule that binds a bacteriophage lysin binding domain.
A method for identifying a gene for a product in an essential pathway for bacterial viability, which method comprises determining whether mutating a gene results in a defect in a bacterial molecule that binds a bacteriophage lysin binding domain, wherein mutation of such a gene indicates that the gene for a product is in an essential pathway.
A method for identifying a lead molecule effective as an antibiotic, which method comprises contacting a gene product of an essential pathway for bacterial viability, which pathway involves the biosynthesis of a bacterial molecule that contains a bacteriophage lysin binding domain, with a candidate molecule and determining whether the candidate molecule inhibits the essential pathway, wherein a candidate molecule that inhibits the essential pathway is a lead molecule effective as an antibiotic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.