METHODS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF INHIBITORS OF MANNOSYLTRANSFERASE AND MANNOSYLTRANSFERASE COMPLEX SUBUNIT AS ANTIBIOTICS

摘要

The present inventors have discovered that mannosyltransferase and mannosyltransferase complex subunit are essential for normal fungal growth and pathogenicity. Specifically, the inhibition of mannosyltransferase gene expression in fungi results in drastically reduced growth and pathogenicity, and the inhibition of mannosyltransferase complex subunit results in elimination of pathogenicity and reduced growth of the fungus. Thus, mannosyltransferase and mannosyltransferase complex subunit are useful as targets for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit mannosyltransferase or mannosyltransferase complex subunit expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals.