METHOD OF MAKING AND IDENTIFYING ATTENUATED MICROORGANISMS, COMPOSITIONS UTILIZING THE SEQUENCES RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTENUATION, AND PREPARATIONS CONTAINING ATTENUATED MICROORGANISMS

摘要

A functional genomic approach for identification of mutants of microorganisms that are unable to grow under certain specific conditions is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided in which a library of signature tagged transposon mutants is constructed and screened for mutants attenuated in pathogenicity. The method is especially useful for identifying loci involved in pathogenicity. The method is well suited to identification of mutant actinomycetales, such as mycobacteria. The method is useful for, among other things, drug discovery and construction of vaccines.