A DOMINANT SELECTABLE MARKER FOR GENE TRANSFORMATION AND DISRUPTION IN YEASTS

摘要

The present invention provides a novel dominant selectable marker system in yeast that is based on an aminoglycoside, nourseothricin (NST). This compound possesses a powerful antifungal activity against Candida albicans and S. cerevisiae. The invention provides a cognate drug resistance marker for use in gene transformation and disruption experimentation in Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In particular, the invention presents: 1) direct utility for gene manipulations in both clinically and experimentally relevant strains regardless of genotype and without affecting growth rate, or hyphal formation; and 2) applicability to antifungal drug discovery, including target validation and various forms of drug screening assays.