Use of YNES, essential bacterial genes and polypeptides
AssigneeMillennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsChristian Fritz, Philip Youngman, Luz-Maria Guzman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a gene, termed “S-yneS,” found in Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is essential for survival for a wide range of bacteria. This gene and the S-yneS polypeptide that it encodes, as well as homologs and orthologs thereof (collectively referred to as “yneS” genes and polypeptides) can be used to identify antibacterial agents for treating a broad spectrum of bacterial infections.
Claims9
A method for determining whether a test compound is a candidate to be an antibacterial agent, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting an S-yneS polypeptide with the test compound;
- and
- (b) detecting an interaction of the test compound with the S-yneS polypeptide, wherein an interaction indicates that the test compound is a candidate to be an antibacterial agent.
A method for determining whether a test compound is an antibacterial agent, the method comprising;
- (a) contacting an S-yneS polypeptide with the test compound;
- (b) detecting an interaction of the S-yneS polypeptide with the test compound, wherein an interaction indicates the test compound is a candidate compound to be an antibacterial agent;
- and
- (c) determining whether the candidate compound inhibits growth of bacteria, relative to growth of bacteria cultured in the absence of the candidate compound, wherein inhibition of growth indicates that the candidate compound is an antibacterial agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.