Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a candidate compound for modulating bacterial growth. This the method involves providing a ? clamp peptide from a bacterial replicase, providing a second peptide that binds to at least one amino acid of SEQ ID NO:9 that is not designated X, wherein the second peptide does not exhibit polymerase activity, and providing a test compound. The ? clamp peptide and the second peptide are contacted with the test compound, and the level of binding between the ? clamp peptide and the second peptide in the presence of the test compound is determined. The level of binding between the ? clamp peptide and the second peptide in the presence of the test compound is then compared to a control that does not contain the test compound. A test compound that alters the level of binding between the ? clamp peptide and the second peptide compared to the control is a candidate compound for modulating bacterial growth.