Abstract: The present invention to an isolated DNA which codes for a gene essential for cell wall glucan synthesis of Candida albicans, wherein the gene is referred to as CaKRE9, wherein the sequence of the DNA is as set forth in FIG. 1. The present invention relates to antifungal in vitro and in vivo screening assays for identifying compounds which inhabit the synthesis, assembly and/or regulation of &bgr;1,6-glucan. There is also disclosed an in vitro method for the diagnosis of disease caused by fungal infection in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antifungal in vitro and in vivo screening assays for identifying compounds which inhibit mannosyltransferases involved in protein O- and N-glycosylation. The antifungal screening assay for identifying a compound which inhibit mannosyltransferases involved in protein O- and N-glycosylation, comprises the steps of: a) subjecting proteins to a specific mannosyltransferase protein encoded by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannosyltransferase encoding gene, wherein said gene is selected from the group consisting of KRE2/MNT1, YUR1, KTR1, KTR2, KTR3, KTR4, KTR5, KTR6 and KTR7; b) subjecting step a) to a screened compound and determining the absence or presence of protein O- and N-glycosylation, wherein the absence of protein O- and N-glycosylation is indicative of an antifungal compound. There is also disclosed an in vitro method for the diagnosis of diseases caused by fungal infection in a patient.