Membrane pore inhibiting agents for treating infection

摘要

The invention relates to methods for identifying antimicrobial agents which inhibit bacterial toxin membrane pore formation and for treating diseases where bacterial protein toxins that form pores in membranes are virulence agents. The invention involves screening for small molecule agents which inhibit membrane pore formation by bacterial protein toxins. The invention is also a method for treating bacterial infection by inhibiting membrane pore formation by bacterial toxin using agents that inhibit membrane pore formation by bacterial toxins. The methods of the invention are also applicable for developing antiviral agents that treat viral infection where exposure of hydrophobic sites of proteins is associated with infection.