Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that 5-Aminolevulinate synthase is essential for fungal pathogenicity. Specifically, the inhibition of 5-Aminolevulinate synthase gene expression in fungi results in no signs of successful infection or lesions. Thus, 5-Aminolevulinate synthase can be used as a target for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit 5-Aminolevulinate synthase expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 10, 2004
Assignee:
Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
Inventors:
Todd DeZwaan, Sze-Chung Lo, Maria Victoria Montenegro-Chamarro, Sheryl Frank, Blaise Darveaux, Sanjoy K. Mahanty, Ryan Heiniger, Amy Skalchunes, Huaqin Pan, Rex Tarpey, Jeffrey Shuster, Matthew M. Tanzer, Lisbeth Hamer, Kiichi Adachi